U.S. Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., the chairwoman of the U.S. House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee, said on Wednesday that Hezbollah -- which attacked and wounded two Israeli soldiers in recent days -- remains a major threat and called for the U.S. to stand with Israel. While critical of Islamic State (IS) terrorism, Ros-Lehtinen said the attack serves as a reminder there are other terrorist threats including Iran.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce announced on Thursday it was backing Miami-Dade School Board member Carlos Curbelo, the Republican challenger, over U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Fla., in one of the closest congressional races in the nation. Moore Hallmark, the U.S. Chambers executive director for the southeast, praised Curbelo on Thursday.

Once word dropped Wednesday that Charlie Crist received $40,000 from strip clubs, the Republican Party of Florida was quick to pounce on the donation, saying Crist should return the campaign contributions. SB Productions Inc., based out of Hollywood, Fla., sent a Crist PAC $30,000, while J.W. Lee Properties LLC out of Hallandale gave the PAC $10,000. Both companies manage strip clubs throughout the South Florida area.

Gov. Rick Scott, R-Fla., took part in a conference call with the White House on Wednesday as the nation prepares for an Ebola outbreak after nations in Africa were impacted by that disease. Scott urged President Barack Obama to help Florida prepare for the possibility of an Ebola crisis.

In an ad released Wednesday, the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) tied trial lawyer John Morgan,the chief sponsor of getting Amendment 2 on the November ballot,to former Gov. Charlie Crist, the Democratic nominee running against Gov. Rick Scott in November. The new ad, titled "The Company He Keeps," shows a clip of Morgan using profane language at a rally backing Amendment 2, a proposal to expand medical marijuana in Florida, followed by Crist, who used to work for Morgan's law firm, praising him.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and other Republican senators wrote to U.S. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, on Wednesday, urging him to stand up to President Barack Obama and warning that the White House could ignore Congress by funding Obamas signature federal health-care laws risk corridor aspects. The Republican senators also warned about insurance company bailouts under the law.

Gov. Rick Scotts team pounced on Democratic rival former Gov. Charlie Crist for accepting $40,000 from strip clubs. SB Productions Inc. out of Hollywood, Fla., sent a Crist PAC $30,000 while J.W. Lee Properties LLC out of Hallandale gave the PAC $10,000. SB Productions and J.W. Lee Properties are companies owned by Brandon Samuels, John Blanke, and William Beasley," the Scott team noted. J.W. Lee is doing business as Scarletts Cabaret, a Hallandale strip club. Scott's team tried to connect these donors to old Crist ally Jim Greer.

Conservative group American Action Network (AAN) announced on Wednesday it was going to send $1.1 million to South Florida to run TV and online ads against U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Fla., who is facing a major challenge from Republican candidate Miami-Dade School Board member Carlos Curbelo. The new ads, which are in both English and Spanish, hit Garcia on ethics.

The fate of Amendment 2, which would expand medical marijuana use in the Sunshine State, continues to be undecided according to a new poll. WFLA and Survey USA released a poll of likely voters late on Tuesday night which shows only 51 percent plan to vote for Amendment 2. A third of those surveyed -- 33 percent -- plan to vote against it while the remainder are undecided.

U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., wrote U.S. Sec. of State John Kerry on Tuesday, backing a temporary travel ban on African nations hit hard by the Ebola virus. Nelson urged the Obama administration to support such a ban. On Monday, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said a travel ban was not currently on the table Considering the changing events and overall magnitude of the situation, it may be time to re-examine the travel issue from the standpoint of visas, Nelson said on Tuesday. Nelson wrote Kerry the following:

U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., part of the U.S. House leadership in his role as senior deputy majority whip, received the Award for Manufacturing Legislative Excellence from the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM). Ross was honored for scoring 97 percent on what NAM recognized as Key Manufacturing Votes.

Miam- Dade School Board member Carlos Curbelo, the Republican candidate running against U.S. Rep. Joe Garcia, D-Fla., in a close congressional race in South Florida, pointed to reports that Wal-Mart was cutting man hours as more proof that President Barack Obamas federal health-care law is not working.

Gov. Rick Scott unveiled a new TV ad on Wednesday which hits Democratic rival former Gov. Charlie Crist on ethics issues. Crist is accused of selling judgeships, the narrator of the ad says before noting that close associates of Crist -- former Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer, fundraiser Alan Mendelsohn and Scott Rothstein who donated heavily to Crist before being convicted of fraud -- did prison time.

Former President Bill Clinton gave a shout out to former Gov. Charlie Crist, the Democratic candidate looking to defeat Gov. Rick Scott in Florida. Clinton sent out an email on behalf of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Tuesday night which praised Crist and other Democrats across the nation.

With the ACLU wanting Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi to overturn the amendment to Florida's Constitution recognizing only traditional marriage in the Sunshine State, Gov. Rick Scott said he supports his fellow Cabinet member. The attorney general is defending Floridas Constitution, which is her duty, Scott said on Tuesday. This is a matter that will be decided by the courts. Whatever the eventual outcome is from the courts, Florida will of course abide with it.