Incoming Gov. Rick Scott continues his inaugural appreciation tour of the state with a whirlwind trip across Florida Wednesday.

A poll from Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with connections to national Democrats, shows that Florida Republicans can expect close primary battles in the presidential race as well as the contest to take on Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.

Two Florida Republicans -- both of whom are possible candidates to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012 -- announced Tuesday that they would be chairing congressional subcommittees when their party takes over the U.S. House in January.

Incoming Agriculture and Consumer Services Commissioner Adam Putnam named key members of the administration on Tuesday as he prepares to leave Congress to assume his new responsibilities in January -- keeping many staffers who served under current Commissioner Charles Bronson.

Incoming Gov. Rick Scott Tuesday named retired Army Col. Mike Prendergast as his chief of staff. Prendergast, a Republican who offered a spirited but ultimately unsuccessful challenge to Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, served as an aide to former U.S. Senator Bob Graham and as a legislative liaison in the Secretary of the Army's Office.

A poll released Tuesday from Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with ties to Democrats at the national level, reveals that Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is ahead of most of his potential opponents, but remains vulnerable: He could not muster more than 50 percent against a pack of mostly unknown Republicans.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis will chair the Emergency Communications, Preparedness and Response Subcommittee of the Homeland Security Committee -- giving the Florida Republican leadership the job of overseeing FEMA and emergency responses.

With his tenure in the U.S. Senate coming to a close, less than a year and a half after Gov. Charlie Crist appointed him to the seat vacated by Mel Martinez, Republican U.S. Sen. George LeMieux attempted to walk away from Washington with a flashy finish and hope for a curtain call -- increasing speculation that he intends to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012.

With a new Congress convening in January, committee assignments are starting to come in for the six new Republican members of the Florida delegation. The freshmen from the Sunshine State will be sitting on a number of important committees as the Republicans take control from the Democrats.

On Friday, House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, named committee and subcommittee assignments for the 2011 session.