[ Gov. Crist campaigns in downtown St. Peterburg this morning. Behind him is his longtime barber Carl Troup. "This guy's been cutting my hair since I was like 10," Crist said. Times photo | Scott Keeler ]

Gov. Charlie Crist showed up at a Starbucks at 4th Street N and 9th Avenue in St. Pete as though he'd already soaked himself in caffeine.

"What a beautiful day for a tax cut!" he said, bounding out of an ethanol fueled Chevy Tahoe and slapping on a "Yes on 1" sticker. But before he could start waving signs, the sunny governor was confronted by someone definitely not voting Yes on 1.

"Excuse me governor, my name's Michelle. I'm against Amendment 1 because I believe it's not going to do anything to help me save my home. $300 is nothing, nothing compared to the property taxes I pay. I believe putting it to a vote, it only makes the responsibility fall on the voters. It leaves you in the clear when you were voted in to cut property taxes for me."

Michelle Butler's hand trembled in Crist's.

"Great to see you this morning, too," he said. "Democracy is a beautiful thing. So vote your conscience .. I'm going to vote yes."

Butler, 33, did not flinch. "I absolutely will. Because one, it's not going to work for homeowners in the state of Florida. ..."

Crist: "Thank you for being here this morning. Tell me your name again."

Butler: "I'm a homeowner, two blocks from here and I'm about to lose my house
because property tax is so  high and insurance is out of control."

Crist: "I know. I'm working on it."