Cannon said he pushed the issue late in the session after Associated Industries President Barney Bishop approached him weeks ago.

''For a long time, offshore oil drilling was the third rail, we didn't talk about it,'' Cannon said. ``But when gas prices spiked last summer I thought about it and the hazard of not having our own supply. ''

Ron Sachs Communications went to work for Daniels' corporation two weeks ago after initially meeting with the group in December. Sachs, a former communications director for Gov. Lawton Chiles who opposed offshore drilling, said the individuals behind the move are small, independent men and women and not big companies, but he refused to identify them.

''There is a lot more suspicion about this than there should be,'' Sachs insisted. ``These are Americans who hope Florida will allow oil and gas exploration.''

REVENUE BOOST

Sachs refused to reveal how much is being spent for advertising and public relations, economic analysis and a pollster, but said drilling could provide the state with enough revenue to resolve many budget shortfalls.

Lobbyists hired to fight for the bill include the team at Southern Strategy Group, which includes former House Speaker John Thrasher; Holland & Knight lobbyist Martha Barnett; former Secretary of State Jim Smith and Wade Hopping.

Although lobbyists will have to disclose the fees they are earning in quarterly reports, only one would answer questions about fees for the oil drilling bill. Smith said he had been asked to help and signed a year long contract for $10,000 a month.

Cannon said he is not troubled by the fact that financial supporters of the measure have refused to be identified.

''It's a policy discussion,'' Cannon said. ``It's the right way to move the conversation forward.''

Mary Ellen Klas can be reached at meklas@MiamiHerald.com

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