Argenziano, R-Dunnellon, became an instant celebrity last year when she sent a gift-wrapped box of the stuff to powerful Associated Industries of Florida lobbyist Jodi Chase, after AIF and other interest groups held up her nursing-home reform bill.

"I was sending a message that something really stinks in Tallahassee," Argenziano said.

That prank has cost Argenziano some support from high places, but the plain-talking woman from Brooklyn just doesn't care.

"Somebody needs to buck the system once in a while," she said. "I am not 'politics as usual. '"

The horse-manure stunt brought severe repercussions, as House Speaker Tom Feeney stripped Argenziano of her committee chairmanship and kicked her off some powerful committees.

But Argenziano is a darling of the GOP now.

"The Argenziano race is definitely a priority for us and one that is increasingly looking good for Nancy Argenziano," said Towson Fraser, a spokesman for the Republican Party of Florida. "People just know her and like her a lot. "

Her opponent for the District 3 Senate seat, incumbent Sen. Richard Mitchell, D-Jasper, thinks Argenziano goes too far.

"I lead with standards of behavior and of looking out for people. We are elected by people to do their work," Mitchell said. "We should be open to everybody's ideas. It's not our office; it's the people's office. I listen to all of them and treat everybody with respect. That speaks volumes about someone. "

But Argenziano notes that she's always been successful caring for her district, whether it's getting bills passed or projects funded. She says Mitchell is hardly even known in some areas of the sprawling District 3 that he currently represents.

One of the reasons, according to Argenziano, is that being a legislator for her is a full-time job. Mitchell works as executive director of a nonprofit agency in addition to his legislative duties.

Campaign records seem to show a more grass-roots support for Argenziano. Fully 30 percent of her contributions were from people giving less than $100, compared with 14 percent of Mitchell's.

District 3 stretches across 12 counties in Central and Northern Florida and terminates in a finger that takes in Tallahassee's east side.

The GOP mentions Argenziano as one of three benefactors in its TV campaign. It focuses on Mitchell's votes over the past four years against tax cuts on stocks and bonds and the annual back-to-school sales-tax holiday.

Argenziano is proud of her record on tax cuts, citing an Americans for Tax Reform pledge to "oppose any and all efforts to increase taxes" that she's signed every election.

Mitchell said the issue's just not that simple.

"It was the first time the Republicans were in charge of everything, and they've made a grave mistake," Mitchell said. "The tax breaks were not a conservative approach. A conservative approach is to realize good times are not gong to always be here with you, and you save for a rainy day. "