The governor is on a tour of four media markets Wednesday to promote Florida's progress in placing foster children with loving families, while his sidekick, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp, spread the same message across the I-4 corridor. It's another example of Crist and Kottkamp touting their records as they run for different offices in 2010.

Before heading out to Jacksonville, Fort Myers and Fort Lauderdale, Gov. Charlie Crist met at the mansion with seven families while their children played in another room of the official residence. His guests included Supreme Court Justice Ricky Polston and his wife, Deborah, who have adopted six boys, all of whom have the same biological mother. Jim Kallinger, who runs the state adoption office, said "We're blessed to have a governor who's raising the awareness in our state."

As a candidate in 2006, Crist emphasized the importance of adoption as an alternative to abortions. Speaking to reporters afterward, Crist dodged the question of whether he would support repealing the 1977 ban on allowing gay couples to adopt children. "I'd have to see," he said.

Asked if he is willing to adopt children, Crist said: "I just have two new stepdaughters, so I've got to take this one day at a time." On the question of Kottkamp's candidacy for attorney general, Crist called the L.G. "a great candidate" but he would not commit to raising money for Kottkamp. "I'm raising money for me right now, and that's hard enough as it is," he said.

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