On Monday, EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson named a familiar face to Florida as the executive director of the Gulf Coast Ecosystem Restoration Task Force -- John Hankinson, who was the regional administrator who oversaw the Sunshine State during the Clinton administration and headed up the Planning and Acquisition Department and theOffice of Land Acquisitionfor the St. Johns River Water Management District. He also was with the Legal Environment Assistance Foundation in Tallahassee and served as a policy analyst in the Office of Planning and Budgeting under Gov. Bob Graham.

Gary Bauer, best known for leading the Family Research Council and running for the Republican presidential nomination back in 2000, took aim at the Florida TEA Party on Monday. In an e-mail to supporters, Bauer made it clear he thinks the third party, which is running conservative activist Peg Dunmire for the seat held by Democratic U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson, is being backed by the Democrats --a belief held by many Florida Republicans.

The debate between gubernatorial candidates Democratic state CFO Alex Sink and Republican nominee Rick Scott ended with a quick series of questions -- most of which had nothing to do with Florida.

The debate between gubernatorial rivals Rick Scott and Alex Sink turned toabortion, with moderator John King from CNN pointing to a new law in Nebraska that does not permit abortions to be performed after 20 weeks. Scott went back to environmental issues which had been the topic before a commercial break. DCA has killed jobs across the state, said Scott, noting that Ave Maria University took years to build due to needing 78 permits.

With the event more than halfway over, the debate between state CFO Alex Sink and Rick Scott finally turned to Florida issues. King asked both candidates about the states continuing economic woes, including a near 12 percent unemployment rate. Scott lashed out at Gov. Charlie Crist and Sink, noting the states unemployment rose during the last four years.

Let me clarify whos been in charge in Tallahassee, said Sink. Its been one party -- Rick Scotts party. Sink noted Crist and the leadership in the Legislature were all Republicans.

After a break, the debate between gubernatorial rivals Democratic candidate state CFO Alex Sink and Republican nominee Rick Scott continued to focus on ethical issues.

As the close contest to be Floridas next governor enters its final week, Democratic candidate state CFO Alex Sink and Republican candidate businessman Rick Scott crossed lances in their last debate of a contentious election battle.

The debate, which was moderated by CNNs John King and broadcast nationally by that news channel, was held at the University of South Florida in Tampa. King was joined by Adam Smith of the St. Petersburg Times.

Speaking at the Miami International Airport on Monday, Republican U.S. Sen. George LeMieux focused on small-business issues -- including the Small-Business Lending Act which he helped author.

With little more than a week until the election, Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) named South Florida Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz its October Porker of the Month.

CAGW took aim at Wasserman Schultz for saying that the stimulus would create more jobs in a year than were created during all eight years of George W. Bushs tenure in the White House.

Former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, who ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and is considered one of the front-runners for the nod in 2012, unveiled three different waves of his 10 for 10 initiative, backing Republican congressional candidates. Of the 30 candidates he is encouraging supporters to back, Romney named two Florida Republicans -- Rep. Sandy Adams of Oviedo who is taking on Democratic U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas and Allen West who is taking on Democratic U.S. Rep. Rod Klein.