Things continue to get more interesting in Florida as the three-way contest for the Senate is in its final weeks.

According to reports in the Orlando Sentinel, after meeting in Orlando last week officials of the Florida Republican Party are weighing the option of the suing Florida governor Charlie Crist, formerly a Republican, for money they believe he should repay.  Following a forensic audit recently completed on Florida GOP finances, state party chairman Senator John Thrasher claimed Crist possibly ran up "hundreds of thousands of dollars" in inappropriate charges to the party.  The Florida governor, who had no Florida GOP credit card, is implicated in accusations against former state party chair Jim Greer, who was ousted earlier this year over allegations of financial impropriety.

Locked in a tight race to get Marco Rubio into the vacant senate seat, the Florida GOP appears to be using any ammunition it can against their former party member for launching an independent campaign.

In response, Crist has suggested the IRS look into the tax returns of his Republican opponent, Marco Rubio, who is accused of running up thousands of dollars of credit card charges for personal spending, including $10,000 for hotel rooms for a family reunion.  Rubio claims to have paid back the charges made to the state GOP credit card.   Spokespersons for both campaigns denied impropriety on the part of their candidate.

Crist continues to try to gain ground in the center while the other two, including Democrat Kendrick Meek, are using a squeeze strategy against Crist.  Rubio has asked for seven debates to take place between now and the general election, which could possibly play to Crist's disadvantage.

Latest polls continue to show Meek trailing significantly behind the other two, and Rubio over Crist anywhere from two to fourteen points.  The Florida GOP is well aware that if Meek's supporters throw their votes to Crist in order to defeat Rubio, Crist's current margin will be meaningless.  Rubio, who has been running as a Tea Party darling, has in recent weeks been distancing himself somewhat from them.  

The Republican candidate recently buried his father, Mario Rubio, a Cuban exile who died in Miami at the age of 83.

Meanwhile, Crist has two new ads hitting Florida television markets this week, both filmed on the beach emphasizing the theme of "a line in the sand."

On the Web: 

GOP: Audit links Charlie Crist to state party's financial scandal - Orlando Sentinel 

GOP, Rubio should clean up own act, Crist says - tampabay.com (The Buzz blog) 

Crist on travel charges: "I don't know what they're talking about" - The Palm Beach Post 

Marco Rubio tax returns 2000-2009 - Marco Rubio 2010 

Charlie Crist tax returns 2000-2009 - Charlie Crist for Senate  

The first of two new Crist campaign ads, "A Line in the Sand."

The second of two new Charlie Crist for Senate ads, "Cross the Line."

Marco Rubio's most recent ad, "Most Important."