Florida Gov. Charlie Crist's latest strategy in his independent bid for the U.S. Senate seems to be an all-out effort to become the de facto Democratic candidate.

Yesterday, Crist picked up an endorsement from Al Lawson, a prominent African-American state senator who has served in the legislature since the early 1980s.

Jennifer Carroll's replacement will be selected by local, not statewide, party leaders.

You can cross one name off the short list of candidates looking to replace Jennifer Carroll.

Rob Davis, a Clay County attorney, has said that he was approached, but will not seek the now vacant seat.

"The timing is just not right for me, for my family, or for my law firm," he said.

Jacksonville City Councilmen Daniel Davis appears to be the front runner, but Clay County Commissioner Doug Conkey's name has also been mentioned.

Though she does not use Rick Scott's name in this video shot weeks before the Aug. 24 primary, Jennifer Carroll makes clear that selecting anyone but Bill McCollum as the Republican nominee for governor would be a mistake.

McCollum, she says, is the lone candidate in the race who does not lack vision. She also notes that someone should not learn how to be governor as governor.

Jacksonville State Attorney Angela Corey was asked if she wanted to be considered for a statewide run for lieutenant governor with Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott but quickly rejected the notion, an associate said.

“There were discussions about whether she was interested. She immediately said no,” said state Rep. Mike Weinstein, R-Jacksonville, who also is executive director of the State Attorney’s Office.

Jennifer Carroll's replacement will be selected by the state's Republican Executive Committee, according to Jennifer Krell Davis, communications director for the Florida Department of State.

Some had speculated that a special election might be coming, but that is not the case.

The REC is chaired by John Thrasher, of St. Augustine.