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Drilling for oil off of Florida’s coast is quickly becoming the hot button topic moving toward the general election. As Whitney Ray tells us, the issue is not only pitting Democrats against Republicans, it’s splitting the GOP as well.

Hear it Here: Oil Drilling Rallies Dems, Divides the GOP

Two Days after the governor changed his tune about drilling for oil off Florida’s Coast.

“I think we should study it,” Governor Charlie Crist said on Tuesday.

Florida Democrats are voicing their frustration with the state’s chief executive.

I just think the Governor is wrong on this,” said Democratic State Senator Arthenia Joyner.

The State’s lone Cabinet Democrat said she’s stunned by the governor’s change of tune and adds Floridians won’t be duped.

“The voters of Florida can see through what’s going on here,” said Alex Sink, Florida’s Chief Financial Officer.

Few issues in Tallahassee have rallied Democrats against the governor like the idea of opening Florida’s coast to oil rigs. Just hours after Governor Crist changed his tune, the Florida Democrats released a statement calling him a flip-flopper. Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman said this issue is rallying Democrats.

“I absolutely think it’s one of the largest issues we’ve seen at the beginning of this campaign that draws the line in the sand.”

Not all Republicans are supporting the Governor’s change of heart. Some top GOPers remain skeptical that drilling off the coast could lower gas prices. The Republican Party of Florida refused to comment on the divide within the party.

If oil was found and excavated off of Florida’s coast it would take years to impact the market, although the state could make hundred of millions of dollars by leasing land to oil companies.