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The Florida Governor’s race just got a little more interesting. Lakeland Senator Paula Dockery threw her hat in the ring today, setting up a Republican Primary. Dockery is challenging GOP front runner Attorney General Bill McCollum. The State Republican Party has been adamant about avoiding a costly primary and been successful making McCollum their guy. Dockery says voters should be allowed to pick a candidate.

“What I am doing is putting my name into the mix to have the voters of the State of Florida decide who they want to hire in November of 2010 to be the CEO of the State of Florida. And my message is directly to them. It doesn’t matter who else is in the race. It doesn’t matter if five or ten other people get in the race. My job is to talk directly to the voters of the state of Florida and make the case for why they should hire me. So, it’s kind of a silly notion to ask what we think of each other because we are all applicants for the same job. And our job is to convince the voters why we would be the best person to represent them,” said Dockery.

McCollum was asked about Dockery’s decision to enter the race shortly before she filed her paperwork. McCollum refused to acknowledge her entry into the race and says he’s focused on the general election.

“I’m focused on a race against the chief financial officer whose my primary opponent, my principal opponent in this race and I think that’s where all the energies are be and should be directed and will continue to be directed,” said McCollum.

Dockery has a steep uphill climb if she’s going to beat McCollum. McCollum is a career politician and has better name recognition. But if Dockery does win, Florida would be on its way to having its first female governor. Alex Sink, a Democratic candidate for Governor, doesn’t have a big name challenger and as of now is expected to sail through the primary.