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Today is day three of a ten day bus tour across Florida for US Senate Candidate Kendrick Meek. The tour started Wednesday in Orlando and began this morning in rural Jefferson County, about 25 miles east of Tallahassee. About a dozen staunch Democrats were on hand for early morning coffee and donuts. As Mike Vasilinda tells us, Meek has pulled ahead in the recent polls against billionaire Jeff Greene, a man Meeks calls “bad.”

It was just after 9 a.m. in near 90 degree heat when day three of the Kendrick Meek Real Democrat Bus Tour got to tiny Monticello, Florida. Democrats here outnumber Republicans 3 to 1. Juanita Crumity grew up here, moved to Palm Beach and returned.

“His mother has done a lot of things and I think people remember his mother,” Crumity said. “I think he’s going to do very well.”

Inside, Meek spent more than half an hour assessing his chances, pitching himself, and talking about support from Bill Clinton and President Obama.

“I’m must carry Jefferson County,” Meek said.

Dick Bailar retired here from South Florida, where Meek’s mother is a legend.

But Bailar made it clear if Meek gets past the primary, the general could be a problem.

“Crist is going independent,” Bailar said.  “They say, well, you know, they have trouble voting for a black man.”

Outside, the candidate personally handed out yard signs and posed for pictures.

Back on Board the “Real Dem Express,” we asked Meek if he thought he could win in North Florida.

“I do believe that there are people in the state of Florida who would never vote for a woman or vote for a Hispanic, or vote for a person of color such as myself,” Meek said. “But I believe that there are more people in the state of Florida that are looking for strong leadership.”

The bus hits Pensacola over the weekend, and then returns to South Florida on the 14th.