When the Republican Party of Florida's Presidency 4 summit rolled around four years ago, there was no straw poll and lots of internal tension.

This year's P5 -- set for Sept. 22-24 at the Orange County Convention Center -- is shaping up as a lively free-for-all hosted by a more unified, post-Charlie Crist party.

"Presidency 4 seems a very long time ago today. It was clear at the time that it was one of the first efforts by Jim Greer and Charlie Crist to manipulate the RPOF to serve their personal interests to the detriment of the party and our followers," recalled Al Cardenas, a former party chairman who now heads the American Conservative Union.

"The '07 event was underwhelming and set the tone for an underachieving election cycle for the GOP in Florida," Cardenas said.

"We were led by an incompetent chairman and an indifferent governor. That indifference translated to the mood of a state electorate which was clearly not motivated by either the standard bearer or our leadership."

Brett Doster, a GOP strategist who attended P4, said the tables have turned this year.

"The RPOF is very unified. We have a common objective and a committed, conservative leadership team."

So, has the ghost of Greer been fully exorcised?

"Completely," Doster says. "Dave Bitner and the Republican Cabinet have restored faith in the organization. Rank-and-file Republicans trust their leadership and commitment to the cause."

Meantime, the arrival of the tea party movement -- which burst onto the scene after the 2008 elections -- brings a whole new dynamic to P5.

"From what I have been hearing, there are a lot of tea party members who were chosen to be delegates to P5," said Robin Stublen, a tea party leader from Charlotte County. Other counties report that top tea activists have entered local lotteries for delegate credentials.

"I believe it is going to have an impact on the outcome. There is no doubt going to be a strong showing for Ron Paul," Stublen said.

If so, that's a far cry from P4, when Rudy Giuliani was seen by many as winning the summit debate and John McCain's forces were able to quash a planned straw poll.


GAUGING THE PARTY'S CONSERVATIVE PULSE

As governor, with an ambitious eye toward a possible vice presidential slot on a 2008 McCain ticket, Crist was able to block P4's straw poll. At that time, Mitt Romney pushed for a poll in an effort to slow McCain's momentum.

This year, Romney, the presumptive front-runner, has technically bowed out of P5's straw poll. That leaves a diverse field of candidates jockeying for position in Florida -- and the poll will be one indicator of strength.

"A lot of people like Herman Cain and Michele Bachmann, and they will get their share of votes," Stublen predicted.

And like others in the tea party/patriot movement, Stublen reserves a healthy dose of skepticism about the conservative credentials of party operatives at P5.

"Let's face it, if everyone who attends were a conservative and voted for conservative candidates, Romney and Jon Huntsman would not have enough votes to field a football team on Sunday," he said.

"As we know, that is not the case. A lot of people are CINO --  Conservative In Name Only."