Democrat Davis to run for Florida governor

WASHINGTON, Feb. 11 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, D-Fla., has tossed his hat into Florida's gubernatorial ring for 2006.

A moderate, five-term congressman and former state legislator, Davis announced his candidacy at the same time his principle rival for the party nod, Bud Chiles, formally kicked off his own campaign, the St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times said Friday.

Among those also reportedly considering bids are state Sen. Rod Smith of Gainesville, state Democratic Chairman Scott Maddox and former Education Commissioner Betty Castor, who lost a 2004 U.S. Senate race to Republican Mel Martinez.

Efforts by Sen. Bill Nelson and other Democrats to minimize intraparty skirmishes are falling flat, the newspaper said. Some Democrats fear an expensive and bitter primary fight while others say a primary can improve a candidate's message and name recognition against well-known Republicans.

Davis is giving up a safe seat in Congress to run for governor, but Democrats said they were confident the party could hold onto the district.

Meanwhile, Chiles -- son of former U.S. senator and governor, Lawton Chiles -- said he would walk the state much like his father did during his successful 1970 campaign and would limit individual campaign contributions to $250.