Charles Bronson

Florida state Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson , a Republican, announced Thursday he will not be a candidate for governor in 2010.

His decision strengthens Republican state Attorney General Bill McCollum’s status as the party’s odds-on favorite.  

The race became an open-seat contest last week when Republican Gov. Charlie Crist announced
he would run for U.S. Senate in 2010 instead of seeking re-election.