TALLAHASSEE -- Republican Party of Florida chairman Jim Greer is being asked to answer to a call for an audit of party books amid questions from top Republican leaders as well as rank and file members about spending on chartered jets, five-star hotels, sports tickets and even men's clothing shops this election cycle.

''There are many folks who believe it's time for the RPOF to run the party with an eye toward fiscal discipline,'' said Brian Ballard, Florida finance chairman for the John McCain campaign. ``Not a day goes by where somebody won't grab me and say you have to get control of the party -- it's out of control.''

While concerns about Greer's spending have been festering behind the scenes for weeks, New Port Richey Republican Joe Aloisio brought the dust-up into the open Thursday when he sent a letter to party members calling for an audit of party finances.

He asked why the party bought tickets to sporting events such as Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees games, trips to Disney World, and spent $682,000 on chartered planes when it could have been spending on TV and radio advertising for John McCain.

''Misappropriated money from the RPOF would have easily financed Spanish language and African-American media . . . and picked up the 3 percent we needed to win for John McCain,'' he wrote.

LEADERS RESPOND

Greer and party budget committee chairman Allan Cox responded to Miami Herald questions about the issue Saturday. They both defended the expenses, saying they primarily reflect gifts, tickets, transportation and high-end venues for fundraisers held by the party on behalf of McCain but also by House and Senate Republican leaders to attract large contributions from major donors.

''If you're going to ask someone to contribute $50,000 to $100,000, you want an event the donor would be receptive to attending,'' Greer said. The party has not only raised a record $23 million this year, he said, its major donor program ``has broken every fundraising goal.''

In a detailed letter to state executive committee members Saturday, Cox said the accounting system was accurate and sound and ``organized to function at corporate-level standards.''

After The Herald first broke this story online, Gov. Charlie Crist made it clear he doesn't need another audit to put his support behind Greer. In a letter to Republicans late Saturday, he endorsed Greer for another two-year term as party chairman and commended him for ``decisive leadership, energy, a tireless commitment to building our Party and promoting the Republican Party's principles and values.''

Cox, the party's budget chairman for the past six years, wrote that claims of misspending are based on political innuendo to suggest fiscal abuse.

ALERTED BY BLOG

Aloisio, 41, said he was alerted to the issue after reading a blog by Republican political operative Roger Stone in October calling for a ''forensic audit'' of party books.

''This guy needs to be audited,'' he told The Miami Herald. ``It's crazy how much money is being spent when people are scared for their futures and walking away from their homes. This is what McCain stood for.''

Stone, who says he doesn't know Greer, said he was frustrated that the McCain campaign was financially strapped in Florida and the party should have recognized ``that the McCain campaign, by choosing to take public finance, was limited.''

Greer responds that all the money raised in Florida was sent to the McCain campaign in Virginia and returned based on spending decisions the campaign made according to a ``Victory Plan.''

''Decisions about how money was to be spent were made by others,'' he said. ``I also was not going to allow the RPOF to go into debt for the presidential candidate -- which has happened previously.''

The financial concerns have prompted some in the party to start recruiting challengers to Greer when he is up for reelection in January. Martin County Executive Committee member Eric Miller has already announced his campaign.

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