U.S. Rep. Tim Mahoney of Palm Beach Gardens, who has refused to endorse the Democratic presumptive nominee, insisted he was "proud to be a Florida Democrat'' and offered praise for Barack Obama at the state party's annual Jefferson Jackson dinner.

"I'm proud that our party has the courage to nominate a man who captures the imagination of our country,'' Mahoney told about 1,500 people gathered at the Westin Diplomat Resort & Spa. "America needs Barack Obama not because he's a Democrat, but because he's right on the economy, right on the war..."

''I don't owe the party anything,'' said Mahoney, whose election helped the Democrats take control of Congress. ``If anybody owes anybody anything, it's Nancy Pelosi who owes a debt to me.''

Mahoney partly blames the dispute over Florida's convention delegates for his commitment problem, but it's clear the real reason he's distancing himself from a liberal Democrat is concern for his own survival. The GOP spent roughly $2 million against him in 2006; he faces three Republican challengers in 2008.

The former Republican turned Democrat has decided to remain uncommitted regarding presumptive Democratic nominee Barack Obama.

Mahoney says of the presidential race. ““I wasn’t elected to be a role model as to how people should vote,”People in my district are smart enough to decide."

Hmmph. Not so certain about that, Tim.

After Mark Foley (who remains a free man) crashed and burned, weren't you barely elected back in 2006 after voters chose to pull the lever for the scandalized Foley via Republican pinch hitter Joe Negron?

And isn't Palm Beach county the home of the infamous 2000 butterfly ballot Yep. Sounds like an intellectually superior crowd. So fess up, Tim.