Tuesday is one of those off-the-clock days for Gov. Charlie Crist. But he'll be hip-deep in partisan politics in Tampa and Fort Lauderdale in two private events set up in conjunction with the Republican Governors Association.

Crist, his former chief of staff George LeMieux and Mississippi Gov. Haley Barbour will hold private briefings for key Republicans "about the political climate here in Florida and around the country," as Crist's invitation letter says. The one-hour sessions are a run-up to an RGA event planned for Miami Beach next November. LeMieux said the guest list includes "people who have been supportive of the governor in the past," but the RGA refused to release a list of confirmed attendees. Two Republican state senators, Ronda Storms and Paula Dockery, are expected to be at the Tampa event.

Among those invited to meet with Crist was Fred Karlinsky, a Fort Lauderdale lawyer and insurance lobbyist. Name ring a bell? His firm's $25,000 donation to Crist's inauguration in December 2006 was returned because it was given just before a special session on insurance.