Charlie Crist is a busy guy as governor. But could he really have been unaware that the president of the United States was in Jacksonville on Monday saluting the dedication of U.S. troops? That's what he said when a reporter asked Crist why he wasn't on hand to welcome the president to his state. "Where was he yesterday?" Crist asked reporters. When they responded with "Jacksonville," Crist answered: "First I've known of that."

Wouldn't Crist's communications staff have at least mentioned, oh-by-the-way, Governor, the president is here for two days this week? "If they want to," Crist replied.

Crist continues to be pestered with questions as to why he appears reluctant to be in President Barack Obama's orbit, unlike last February when he embraced the president in Fort Myers in what was viewed by some as a grateful acknowledgement of all those billions of dollars in stimulus money. Asked why he didn't join the president at a solar energy event in rural DeSoto County on Tuesday, Crist said: "I've got a Cabinet meeting, so I've got to do my official duties, first and foremost." (The Obama meeting in Fort Myers also conflicted with a Feb. 10 Cabinet meeting, a fact Crist said he did not recall but would check.)

"I think we all were aware that he was coming. I didn't know his itinerary," Crist said. 

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