TALLAHASSEE -- Is Crist threat letter linked to McCain's?

State investigators are trying to find out who sent a threatening letter to Gov. Charlie Crist in an envelope filled with a white powdery substance, The Miami Herald has learned.

The powder was quickly tested and deemed nontoxic, said Florida Department of Law Enforcement spokeswoman Heather Smith. She said FDLE is coordinating with federal authorities who are investigating the circumstances behind two threatening letters reported Thursday by presidential candidate John McCain's campaign.

Smith said the letter sent to Crist directly threatened him. She suggested the perpetrator could soon be caught and called this an ``isolated incident.''

The letter addressed to Crist was received Wednesday, but news of it didn't leak out until McCain's campaign reported similar letters. McCain and Crist are friends. McCain has been considering Crist as a vice-presidential candidate. Crist is scheduled to speak briefly at the Republican National Convention next month in Minneapolis.

The Crist letter was detected during a routine screening of Crist's mail at a site away from the Capitol, Smith said.

''We believe significant progress has been made in the investigation,'' Smith said. ``We've worked aggressively on this. It appears to be isolated incident. We expect this will be resolved quickly, and when it does the information will be made public.''

Smith added: ``We're satisfied the governor is safe and secure,''

Crist didn't seem concerned with his safety Thursday as he inspected damage from Hurricane Fay in Brevard County. His staff chief, Eric Eikenberg, would only say the letter had ''all kinds of crazy language,'' but wouldn't elaborate.

A spokesman for McCain, Jeff Sadosky, said the campaign was unaware of any other politicians receiving threatening letters. One of the McCain letters was received about 5 p.m at the campaign's Denver office. The envelope had a white powder substance in it. It is being tested. The other letter, received about 6:30 p.m. at a New Hampshire office, didn't have the substance.

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