Colorado became one of the first states in the country to legalize marijuana at the beginning of the year, but a new Quinnipiac University poll shows more than half of Colorado voters say legalization is bad for the states image. Fifty one percent of voters said legalization is bad for the states image, while 38 percent disagreed.

The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) looked to link former Gov. Charlie Crist -- the favorite for the Democratic gubernatorial nomination to challenge Gov. Rick Scott despite spending most of his political life as a Republican -- to President Barack Obama on Monday, marking the fifth anniversary of the then-governor appearing with the president in Fort Myers to back the federal stimulus. Crist will be in Fort Myers on Monday to promote his new political memoir.

On his national book tour, chameleon Democratic gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist told TV talk-show hosts the story of The Obama Hug. Over and over and over. He always followed it, as he did on "Real Time With Bill Maher" Friday night and at the AP media event in Tallahassee on Jan. 29, with some version of "When the president of the United States of America wants to appear with you, you show up. ... My mom and dad always taught me to be respectful ..."

Gov. Rick Scott's campaign team fired back at former Gov. Charlie Crist on Friday after Crist said six people die every day because Scott didn't vote to expand Medicaid. "[Scott] said he was for it, Medicaid expansion, for about 30 seconds. I'm exaggerating a little bit, but not much," Crist said on MSNBC's "Daily Rundown." "Didn't lift a finger to get it passed.

U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Fla., doubled down on his support of immigration reform even as he said President Barack Obama has not been helping the cause. It's no secret that President Obama has a major credibility problem, whether it's with our allies, the American people, or Congress, Diaz-Balart said on Thursday. The president's attitude of selectively enforcing the law has made it more difficult to move immigration reform forward in the House.

According to the Department of Labor, U.S. employers added only113,000 jobs during the month of January, a number significantly less than the average monthly gain of 194,000 last year, raising concerns that the nation's economy is slowing down. Job gains over the last three months have averaged just 154,000, down from 201,000 in the preceding three. January and December's job growth were the weakest two months of job growth in three years.

Marihelen Wheeler, a middle-school teacher in Gainesville who ran for the Florida House in 2012, is setting her sights higher as she filed to run against U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla. In 2012, Wheeler ran a scrappy campaign but was outspent by primary rival Clovis Watson. However, she did reel in some endorsements, especially from teachers unions, including the Alachua County Education Association and the Marion County Education Association. She has also garnered the backing of the Alachua County Young Democrats.

Has former Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink gone missing?Not necessarily, but David Jolly wants to know where Sink's been hiding. Paying homage to the '80s video game hit "Carmen Sandiego," Jolly's campaign team asked the following on Thursday: "Can you help us figure out where Alex Sink is? Here are some clues: * She may spend a few hours at the Botanical Garden. * She may be meeting with President Obama to console him after

The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) fell in line behind Republican David Jolly in the special election being held in Pinellas County for the congressional seat held for decades by the late U.S. Rep. Bill Young, R-Fla. Jolly takes on former state CFO Alex Sink, the Democratic candidate, and Libertarian Lucas Overby in the March 11 general election. SAFE (Save America'?s Free Enterprise) Trust, NFIB's PAC, endorsed Jolly on Thursday.

In a frantic dash to dispel talks that his fundraising numbers are lagging, Charlie Crist posted $245,500 in contributions to wrap up the month of January.

This week, Americans for Prosperitys (AFP) Florida chapter launched a television ad to support U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., for opposing President Barack Obamas federal health-care law. AFP is spending $16,000 to run the ad over the next three weeks. Southerland is a top Democratic target as Gwen Graham, daughter of former Gov. and U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, is challenging him in November.

U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., appeared on Greta Van Susterens show on Fox News on Wednesday night, weighing in against President Barack Obamas federal health-care law. Rubio pointed to risk corridors, included in the law, as a major fiscal liability. The interview went as follows:

Former Gov. Charlie Crist is continuing to make the rounds on national news shows as he pushes his new memoir which explains why he left the Republican ranks to run for the U.S. Senate in 2010 with no party affiliation. Crist joined the Democrats in December 2012 and is his new partys front-runner to challenge Gov. Rick Scott in November. The Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) continues to pound Crist and looks to link him to President Barack Obamas federal health-care law which polls badly in Florida.

Vice President Joe Biden will be heading to Florida next week to fundraise for Alex Sink, but Biden won't be making a stop in Pinellas County to do so. Instead, he'll be traveling to South Florida to help raise cash for the former chief financial officer running against David Jolly. An invitation obtained by CNNsays the vice president will be headed to Coral Gables, 280 miles away from Pinellas County.

The University of Florida released a poll of registered voters on Wednesday which shows former Gov. Charlie Crist, the favorite for the Democratic nomination despite spending most of his career as a Republican, leading Gov. Rick Scott 47 percent to 40 percent.