TAMPA - Maybe Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Buddy Johnson was thinking of those photos showing Rudy Giuliani in drag when he prepared sample Republican ballots for the Jan. 29 presidential preference primary arriving in mailboxes this week.

Topping the list of candidates is one Rudi Giuliani, with the sample ballot substituting the feminine "i" where the "y" should be in Rudy on both the English and Spanish language versions. The Buzz is still awaiting word on whether absentee ballots and official ballots to be used by voters later this month at the polls have the same typo. Giuliani's first name appears correctly on the supervisor's web site.

-- Bill Varian, Times staff writer