There’s a highly entertaining buzz going on at the Buzz, the St. Petersburg Times’ political blog. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has been stepping up his campaign to be John McCain’s running mate, talking partisanship here and piety there. It’s that last one that has Floridians snorffling.

Buzz noticed that Gov. Charlie Crist gave a very public nod to his girlfriend Carole Rome, which might just be a first for the governor, at least in a public speech.

“Lt. Gov. (Jeff) Kottkamp and I are lucky guys. You’re blessed with Cindy and I’m blessed with Carole, and that’s a special thing,” Crist said during his speech at a Republican Party of Florida fundraiser on Thursday night.

Crist is widely believed to be gay and his new friend Carole Rome considered a beard to help him win the McCain vice presidential spot. Rome is in the process of a divorce from Bluestar Jets CEO Todd Rome, reportedly because of her wanton spending. Comments to the blog post tell even more.

• This will not play well in future divorce proceedings.
• McGreevey, Part II. Wait until the blessed Carole sues the hell out of Charlie for marrying her for political gain. Do you think she is going to be happy in his St. Pete condo?…When it comes time for Charlie to fess up and join the priesthood, we will all enjoin the sideshow of another McGreevey trial.
• Yes, he is blessed to have Carole because he thinks it will keep the national scrutiny from his life. Sorry Charlie. Everyone knows your game and the gold digger Rome won’t be around once McCain makes his announcement and you finally realize IT’S NOT YOU.
• I think Charlie is the gold digger. I think she is the one with the money. This story is so predictible it isn’t even interesting. They get married, have a 3 page spread in People (his interest in the Hollywood-type of press coverage) and in 3-4 years, major blow out with boyfriend selling out to the Inquirer and a nasty divorce. Books written by both parties.
• Getting married at this point would absolutely no political gain; it would just raise more questions.
• Will Carole be blessed to have him when someone other than Cristi is standing next to McCain on the dais in Minneapolis? If CC doesn’t get the VEEP spot, Mrs. Rome will be dropping him like a rock.
• She’s married and he is gay. WHAT a pair!
• 8:58, you seem to forget Charlie Crist’s track record of dropping women like a rock after they have outlived their usefulness as beards. Remember his campaign girlfriend that he quickly dispatched after the inaugural?
• GET BACK TO YOUR OFFICE AND DO SOMETHING YOU OVER-TANNED, HAIR-DYED, LYING, CORPORATE-PUPPET, PHOTO-OPPING ON OUR DIME, PAPER DOLL FREAKING FRAUD!
• When Crist retires, he and Carole could live in Beverly Hills, Florida. There’s a Winn-Dixie there for shopping.