In recommending a candidate for the Republican gubernatorial primary the St. Petersburg Times editorial board goes with the hometown candidate. Charlie Crist is the "clear choice...Although he never will be mistaken for a policy wonk or a visionary leader, Crist has matured a bit as a politician since he was first elected to a St. Petersburg state Senate seat in 1992" 

But in the Democratic primary, instead of the backing the hometown candidate, the editorial board gave the nod to Rod Smith."It is a close call, but in our judgment state Sen. Rod Smith of Alachua is the candidate who can best make the case for change in November and then steer this state back toward the middle."

Elsewhere in the state, Daytona Beach News-Journal and Palm Beach Post also endorse Crist and Smith, and the Lakeland Ledger endorses Smith.