Gwen Graham's Refusal to Back Nancy Pelosi Gets National Notice

Lost in the hoopla over Wednesday nights Florida gubernatorial debate -- and former Gov. Charlie Crists fan -- was another debate impacting the politics of the Sunshine State.

U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., squared off in a debate with Gwen Graham in Tallahassee and the Democratic challenger is getting some national notice for her answers.

Despite being a darling of national Democrats, including a favorite of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee (DNCC), Graham said she would not back U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., for speaker. Earlier in the campaign, Graham refused to say if she would back Pelosi for speaker even as her campaign took money from the Democratic leaders PAC.

Grahams refusal to back Pelosi won her some national attention, including from the conservative Washington Times.Politico also looked at Grahams criticism of President Barack Obama, his federal health-care law and Democratic congressional leaders like Pelosi.