ORLANDO — Tom Gallagher called on his Republican primary opponent Friday to reject an endorsement from a biweekly gay and lesbian publication, saying it doesn't reflect the party's values.

Attorney General Charlie Crist was picked as the "hands-down favorite" between the Republican candidates running for governor, largely because of Crist's support of civil unions, according to a recent endorsement by Watermark Online.

"While he unsurprisingly dislikes gay marriage, Crist supports civil unions for same-sex couples," the endorsement in the Aug. 24-Sept. 6 issue reads. "He's charming, decisive — and moderate. That simply cannot be said for state Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, who trails Crist in the polls. This may be the reason why Gallagher talks so often about his opposition to gay marriage in his ads. He doesn't want us to forget it."

Gallagher's campaign issued a press release Friday with a headline that called on Crist to reject the endorsement. The two-paragraph body of the press release then called the endorsement a "reward for not defending traditional values" and noted that Crist was the only Republican in the governor's, Cabinet or U.S. Senate races who was endorsed by the group.

Gallagher said the endorsement is "one that normally Republicans aren't interested in having."

"I don't think you'd ever see Jeb Bush get that endorsement," Gallagher told reporters during an Orlando campaign stop. "You won't see me get that endorsement."

Crist, campaigning in Bartow, responded to Gallagher's press release, saying: "I don't reject support. I'm in the business of trying to get support. I got an election Tuesday and I want to get all the support I possibly can. You know, I'm not trying to be discriminating."

Watermark covers Central Florida from the west coast to east coast, according to its Web site. In addition to appearing online, the publication is distributed at bookstores, local colleges and universities, retail outlets and restaurants. Its Web site says it is the "best way to reach the I-4 corridor's estimated half-million gays and lesbians."

Drawing attention to the endorsement is in keeping with Gallagher's political strategy of presenting himself as the conservative in the campaign and Crist as a liberal. Playing to the extreme of a party is often a successful strategy in a primary, but Gallagher remains far behind in the polls to Crist, who also describes himself as a conservative.

With four days until election day, both candidates were out on the campaign trail in Republican-heavy Central Florida Friday.

Crist spent the morning waving signs at cars on State Road 60 in Valrico, then traveled to Bartow, where more than 30 volunteers were calling Republican voters, urging them to vote for Crist.

Crist made about a dozen phone calls himself while sitting at a small desk with a picture of Nancy Reagan behind him and life-size cardboard cutout of President Bush looking over his shoulder. On the desk was a list of names and phone numbers.

"Hi, I'm Charlie Crist and I'm running for governor," he told Alice Diller. "I want you to know how much it would mean to me if you vote for me for governor."

She told him she had voted early and voted for him.

Joan DiPetro was not home, so Crist left a message, adding at the end, "By the way, this is not a recorded call. This is actually me calling you."

Crist then traveled to Orlando, where he spoke to the Florida Medical Association, which has endorsed him. There, he made it clear that he believes winning the GOP nomination is in his grasp.

"We're at the 5-yard line and we have to score," said Crist, reminding the crowd that he is a former high school and college quarterback. "Let's punch it through."

Gallagher, meanwhile, continued to attack Crist's support of civil union, as he has done in his television ads and their debates.

"Our Florida values do not want civil unions for same-sex couples," Gallagher said Friday in Orlando, a stop on his three-day statewide bus tour.

There, after a tour of the Center for Pregnancy in Orlando, he picked up the endorsement of Sen. Daniel Webster, R-Winter Garden, who called him the "best conservative choice in this race."

Webster said his decision on whom to vote for was made, in part, after watching the debates.

"I wanted to sort out in my own mind a changed Tom Gallagher, which he is," Webster said, referring to Gallagher's reputation as a moderate during previous gubernatorial runs and when he was a lawmaker. "Absolutely in my mind, I'm convinced he is different than the Tom Gallagher that I knew in the House of Representatives. And I'm thankful for that."

"So am I," Gallagher said.

Earlier in the day, Gallagher's campaign stopped at the headquarters of Florida for Marriage Leadership in Orlando.

Gallagher has emphasized his pro-family stance, noting that he and his wife, Laura, were among the first who signed the petition supporting a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriages. Crist also has signed it, but has said he would support allowing people to enter into civil contracts that would allow them to visit their partners and handle their funeral arrangements.

John Stemberger, president and general counsel of the Florida Family Policy Council, said the effort is only 50,000 signatures shy of the 611,009 needed to put the marriage amendment on the ballot in 2008.