Guess who's coming to dinner south Florida?

Why, it's our old pal, the odious WATB Joe Lieberman (I-Can't Believe He's Still in the Senate).

This week, the 2008 presidential race brings Lieberman back to Palm Beach County - but on behalf of a Republican candidate. Lieberman is scheduled to make appearances in South Florida on Wednesday and Thursday for GOP hopeful John McCain as Florida's Jan. 29 primary approaches. McCain himself isn't expected here this week.

Lieberman's schedule includes a Boca Raton event hosted by McCain-backing Republican state Reps. Adam Hasner and Ellyn Bogdanoff and Boca Councilman Peter Baronoff. Lieberman also is slated to campaign in Broward and Miami-Dade for McCain, who isn't expected in Florida until after South Carolina's primary on Saturday.

The columnist, George Bennett of the Palm Beach Post, notes that on Lieberman's previous forays down here, as Al Gore's running mate in 2000, the Connecticut senator was "welcomed in South Florida as a virtual favorite son ...." I imagine the greeting might be a little different this time, or at least more orchestrated ...

Incidentally, Bennett also quoted Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.):

Florida's top elected Democrat, U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, isn't saying whether he'll make a presidential endorsement before the Dem primary. Nelson's GOP prediction: "John McCain is going to be the nominee, and he's the toughest nominee that the Democrats can have. Give me a Giuliani. Give me a Romney. Give me a Huckabee."

Hmmm ... that sounds familiar, doesn't it?

On the Republican side, Sen. Nelson was much more direct. "I've been saying for three months now, and I've said it to his face, John McCain will be the nominee," provided he has the money to run the race. According to Sen. Nelson, McCain is the "closest thing to a leader" that the Republicans have, and he will provide the toughest challenge for the eventual Democratic candidate. "Come on!," he fairly laughed. "Give me Giuliani! Give me Romney! Give me Huckabee! McCain is the toughest match."

You don't think Bennett reads Blast Off!, do you? Sure, maybe he was at the same luncheon I attended, but who knows? After all, it would be irresponsible not to speculate ...

(Then again, if Bennett read Blast Off!, he might have quoted Sen. Nelson accurately ...)