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TALLAHASSEE — Yikes, what a difference a month makes.

Written off by the parties as a “gimme” state for GOP presidential candidate John McCain, Florida has yet again become an important player in what may be a tight race for the state’s 27 electoral votes.

Recently, the Democrats breezed through with visits from former President Bill Clinton and an earlier get-out-the vote rally at Florida A&M University by Michelle Obama and Jill Biden.

This week, Sarah Palin returns to Florida for the second time since accepting the VP nod. She’ll host a series of fundraisers around the state. She’ll be in Fort Myers Monday at Germain Arena in Estero.

Parking is available at the arena and overflow parking, with a shuttle, at the adjacent Miromar Outlet Mall.

It’s no wonder more space is needed. Last week’s debate between Palin and U.S. Sen. Joe Biden drew 69.9 million U.S. viewers, the most watched ever between vice presidential candidates, Nielsen Media Research reported.

The vice presidential debate outdistanced that held by their bosses, whose televised debate a week earlier drew 52.4 million viewers. Both debates did not eclipse the mother of all presidential sparring matches. In 1980, 80.6 million viewers tuned it to watch President Jimmy Carter battle a soon-to-be Republican icon, Ronald Reagan.

Palin travels Tuesday to Jacksonville and Pensacola, two other Republican strongholds. Palin’s rock star status continues as organizers in Pensacola also moved the venue to a larger arena.

Speaking of the campaigns, voter registration for the Nov. 4 general election ends Monday. Registrations for the upcoming election must be postmarked by midnight tonight. If you don’t register, relegate yourself to the group of armchair quarterbacks.

In Collier County voter registration application are available at the Supervisor of Elections Office, driver’s license offices, public libraries, government satellite offices, state agencies that provide public assistance. Would-be voters can also get an application from the Supervisor of Elections Office Web site at: www.CollierVotes.com. Applications must be mailed or dropped off in person.

In Lee County voters can visit the supervisor of elections’ Web site at www.leeelections.com.

CLIMATE CHANGE PANEL TO CONCLUDE WORK THIS WEEK

The Governor’s Action Team on Energy and Climate Change meets Wednesday to finalize its menu of options to send to Gov. Charlie Crist. The panel, established by lawmakers earlier this year, has been charged with mapping out a strategy for alternative energy production and the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.

Last week, staff members from the Florida Public Service Commission recommended that nuclear energy not be included in the list of renewable energy sources. Large utilities including Florida Power and Light have argued that nuclear generation should be included in the menu of options available to satisfy a state mandate.

The mandate calls for generators to produce at least 20 percent of electricity from solar, wind or other resources as state officials led by Crist to reduce the state’s reliance on coal, oil and other nonrenewable sources of energy. The full PSC has yet to weigh in on the staff recommendation.

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Michael Peltier is the Daily News’ Tallahassee correspondent. E-mail him at mpeltier1234@comcast.net.