Alex Sink, the Democratic candidate for chief financial officer, just had another impressive fund-raising spurt. In the first full week after the Sept. 5 primary, she raised $187,896, scoring $500 checks from 225 contributors. Sink donors include former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, assorted labor unions, and the Hamilton Forman-Austin Forman real estate empire in Fort Lauderdale.

In that same week (Sept. 9-15) following his Republican primary victory in the CFO race, Senate President Tom Lee raised a Jim Davis-like $13,985. Lee's total for the week would have been much less but for the generosity of the WellCare managed health care giant, which sent 19 separate $500 checks for a total of $9,500, accounting for the lion's share of Lee's one-week total.

All told, Lee has outraised Sink by a sliver, $2.5-million to $2.4-million. But in the six weeks until Election Day, Lee -- who steadfastly criticized the power of special interest money as a senator -- can expect much more financial help from the Republican Party than Democrats can afford to give Sink. Still, Sink, who has never held elective office, is running virtually neck-and-neck in a down-ballot race against a leader of the state Legislature who has Gov. Jeb Bush's support.