Tom Gallagher: 'Most conservative candidate in race': Tom Gallagher focuses on the future in his race for Florida's top political rung and does it by discarding the past.

Byline: Mary Ellen Klas

Aug. 20--Tom Gallagher has spent a career shattering political barriers -- the first Miami-Dade County Republican reelected to the Legislature, the first Republican to sit on the Cabinet and the most statewide jobs held by a single person.

For 32 years, the former college swimmer with the boyish grin succeeded by selling a moderate message that appealed to crossover Democrats, middle-of-the-road Republicans and Florida's growing collection of independent voters.

Now, at age 62, Gallagher wants to be elected governor, and he wants to shatter one more thing: his moderate record.

"What makes me different? I am the most conservative candidate in this race," he explains when asked how voters can distinguish him from his Republican primary rival, Attorney General Charlie Crist.

Gallagher is one of the longest-serving politicians in state history. He came to Florida from Delaware on a partial swimming scholarship at the University of Miami and stayed. He was elected to the state House of Representatives…