Republican candidate Marco Rubio, the front-runner in the U.S. Senate race, launched a new television commercial on Monday morning. The ad -- which does not focus on his two opponents in the race -- stresses that Rubio will help change the tone and direction of Washington.

Republican Marco Rubio, the front-runner in the U.S. Senate race, is getting more help from an old ally -- U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint of South Carolina.

DeMint, an early backer of Rubio, sent an e-mail on behalf of Rubio late Sunday.

Marco is a strong voice for freedom and for what makes America great, and he knows what it will take to save freedom in this great country, wrote DeMint. His optimistic message of conservative reform is inspiring voters in Florida and across the nation.

The debate between the three U.S. Senate candidates turned to international affairs and immigration.

The second half of the debate between the three leading U.S. Senate candidates opened with more fireworks as Republican front-runner Marco Rubio took aim at his nearest rival, Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running without party affiliation.

Score one for U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, the Democratic nominee in the U.S. Senate race. In a debate Sunday morning with Republican Marco Rubio and Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running with no party affiliation, Meek scored the best line of the first half of the event.

With the election little more than a week away, on Sunday morning the three leading candidates running for the U.S. Senate clashed in a debate that opened with a discussion on the state's continued economic problems.

With Republican candidate Marco Rubio leading in the polls by double digits, Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running with no party affiliation, and Democratic nominee U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek took the gloves off and went after Rubio, trying to cut down his lead.

With Sarah Palin in the state to help Republican candidates, Florida Democrats fired away on Saturday -- trying to link Sunshine states with the colorful former Alaska governor.

With Jim Norman ineligible to run, votes counted for him on the Republican line will go to former Sen. Rob Wallace -- who, as the only candidate on the ballot, appears headed back to Tallahassee. Norman, who defeated Rep. Kevin Ambler in the primary, was ruled ineligible due to breaking campaign finance laws. Republican leaders in the district went with Wallace to replace Norman.

With Attorney General Bill McCollum announcing he will not appeal a decision to overturn the ban on same-sex couples adopting, which had been Florida law for more than 30 years, the leaders of the Florida Family Policy Council, an organization which defends traditional marriage, expressed their disappointment.

Its been a busy Friday afternoon for Attorney General Bill McCollum. Besides endorsing Rick Scott for governor, two months after Scott beat him in the Republican primary, McCollum announced he would not appeal a panel of judges in Miami who struck down the states ban on same-sex couples adopting.