Charlie Crist acknowledged in an interview that it may not look like he's 100 percent focused on Florida, when he's spending so much time raising money out of state for his Senate race. "One of the things I like the least about what I do is having to raise money...I also realize that I have to have resources in order to communicate and in order to educate. I don't enjoy going to receptions a lot, but I know I have to do it,'' Crist said. "Does it look bad? Perhaps. But I know if I don't do it, I'm not going to be able to communicate when it really matters."

Crist  said he consulted with  former Democratic Sen. Bob Graham, who also raised money for a senate race while serving as governor, about fundraising.

"(Graham) said, 'It's very difficult and you have to try to be very sensitive to the out-of-state fundraising versus in-state. Your first job is your job.' I realize that. He said, 'My advice would be if you do out of state fundraising do it before the election year. If there are people around the country who want to help you' - and thank God there are a few - 'I would try to schedule those before the calendar year ends in 2009.' So I'm trying to do that. I think it was good advice."