Former admiral and Republican U.S. Senate candidate LeRoy Collins Jr. had today that rare oppportunity for little-known candidate - extended free TV time in a crucial TV market. Collins was to appear along with fellow Katherine Harris rivals Will McBride and Peter Monroe on "Political Connections" to air Sunday on Bay News 9. He had personally accepted the invitation from the station, but when the time came only McBride and Monroe showed up. It seems the 10 a.m. appointment got lost in the Collins campaign shuffle.

Imagine my surprise when I returned to the office to retrieve a 9:15 a.m. voice mail message from Collins' new campaign manager, Chris Ingram. Any way Collins might get on Political Connections sometime?, he asked. Doh!

Check out McBride and Monroe at 11 a.m. Sunday on Bay News 9 in Tampa Bay.