PANAMA CITY · On the day after their first televised debate, Democrat Jim Davis and Republican Charlie Crist worked to fire up hard-core political activists on opposite ends of the state amid growing signs of a tightening and increasingly hostile governor's race.

To energize his base, an upbeat Davis headed into Democrat-rich condominium communities in South Florida, where he hammered away on homeowner concerns about insurance and taxes, and told supporters Crist has lost his dominant-frontrunner status.
 
Crist, who campaigned in the Panhandle amid crowds of seniors, veterans and other Republicans, struck an aggressive tone, mocking Davis' debate performance as gloomy and warning backers that a Democratic governor would hurt them financially.

``I'm running against a guy who wants to raise your taxes,'' Crist told an early morning crowd at a Pensacola park, referring to Davis' support of restoring a state intangibles tax on investment savings.

``I want to double your homestead exemption. I want to bring down taxes and lower your insurance costs.''

Repeating a theme from Tuesday's debate outside the Okaloosa County Republican Party headquarters in Shalimar, Crist told supporters that despite his backing the policies of Gov. Jeb Bush and the Republican Legislature, he sees big changes ahead for state government regardless of which candidate gets elected.

``We're going to have change in Tallahassee and it's either going to be a negative change or a positive change. I'm about positive change,'' Crist said. ``But did you see that other guy in the debate last night? Boy, is he depressing or what?"

Throughout Wednesday's bus tour swing through the Panhandle, Crist and several Republican officials campaigning alongside him told Republicans to neither be lulled into overconfidence nor troubled by polls showing a narrowing gap between the major party rivals.

At South Florida events, including a stop in Aventura, Davis was clearly buoyed by his debate performance and by some new surveys that suggest he is rapidly gaining ground. ``So the race is starting,'' Davis whispered just before greeting a room of 75 supporters.

Focusing on homeowners insurance, the Tampa congressman attacked the state attorney general for failing to fight insurance companies that have hiked rates and canceled policies.

Activists who turned out for Davis said they see a change in the mood of the Democrat's campaign over the last few days. A widely mentioned survey by Quinnipiac University Poll, which has been tracking the Florida governor's race for months, showed it at a dead heat. Other recent polls have shown the race becoming closer but still with Crist enjoying a double-digit lead. A poll released Wednesday by Strategic Vision showed Crist with a nine-point advantage over Davis.

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By Mark Hollis
Tallahassee Bureau

Jason Garcia of the Tallahassee Bureau contributed to this report.

Mark Hollis can be reached at mhollis@sun-sentinel.com or 850-224-6214.

Copyright 2006, Sun-Sentinel Co. & South Florida Interactive Inc.