Eddie Adams Jr. beats out Mike Prendergast in Hillsborough GOP straw poll

In public appearances, Adams always brings a healthy contingent of vocal and visible supporters, in part generated by the fact that he has been the sacrificial lamb going against Castor in the heavily Democratic district the last two go arounds, and has built up considerable good will.

But some notable Washington Republicans like Prendergast as having a better chance against Castor this November, and on Saturday Texas Congressman Pete Sessions was scheduled to appear in South Tampa for  a fundraiser for Prendergast.  Sessions just happens to be the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee.

The straw poll is obviously not necessarily indicative of anything other than the sentiments of those Republicans who came out to vote on Saturday, but as such, gives us clues about where locally the GOP is - and is not.

For example, despite some polls that show Rick Scott making headway against longtime GOP gubernatorial front runner Bill McCollum, the straw poll in Hillsborough was a thorough endorsement of the Attorney General, as he took 218 votes, with Scott getting just 34, and Paula Dockery 17 votes.

In the two most hotly contested local State House races, Dana Young beat Todd Marks with 148 votes to 101 votes in the House 57 race.  In House race 47 (in which the candidates debated on Friday), Jamie Grant took home 146 votes, easily surpassing his closest rival there, Irene Guy, who received 26 votes.

In a fun fact that tells us how establishment oriented the participants in the survey are, former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney was the favorite for the GOP nomination for President that won't be decided for two years on Friday, taking 153 votes.  Sarah Palin was second with 57 votes, Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty third with 25, and Newt Gingrich received 22 votes.