Oh, for the days when Pat Robertson could claim credit for diverting hurricanes from the Eastern seaboard at will …

Robertson, it seems, has some new competition: Flordia Gov. Charlie Crist, who is musing aloud whether the main reason the Sunshine State has been hurricane-free is that God is answering his prayers.

Yes, people, this is a man who is frequently touted as the future of the Republican Party.

From the Associated Press:

Crist said he isn’t trying to take credit, but he told a group of real estate agents Friday that he’s had prayer notes placed in the Western Wall in Jerusalem each year and no major storms have hit Florida. Crist noted that just before his election in 2006, Florida had been affected by a total of eight hurricanes in 2004 and 2005.

“Do you know the last time it was we had a hurricane in Florida? It’s been awhile. In 2007, I took my first trade mission. Do you know where I went?” said Crist, a Methodist, referring to a trip to Israel.