Saturdays high stakes gridiron match-up between Florida State University and Clemson is reaching into the political world. While Saturdays game is critical for the Atlantic Division standings of the ACC, with the impact stretching beyond the East Coast in the national title game picture, Gov. Rick Scott has wagered South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley a Florida key lime pie against a South Carolina barbecue upon the outcome of the prime-time contest.

Employment in the Sunshine State held steady this summer, maintaining an 8.8 percent rate for the second month, according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity on Friday. While the percentage didnt change, the August numbers included 28,000 new private-sector jobs, the largest month-to-month increase since April 2011, the state job agency reported. More to come.

Florida Gov. Rick Scott, Texas Gov. Rick Perry and Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker pushed the campaign for GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney on Friday as they highlighted their own tax-cutting efforts of their states as opposed to action by the federal government job creation. Scott also urged Romney to address more of how youre going to turn the economy around on the campaign trail.

Gene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon, gave his support to the Space Leadership Act as it was unveiled Thursday by U.S. Reps. Bill Posey, R-Rockledge, John Culberson, R-Texas, Frank Wolf, R-Va., Pete Olson, R-Texas, Lamar Smith, R-Texas and James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.

Lenny Curry, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, on Thursday issued the following statement responding to President Obama turning down aid to Florida's victims of Hurricane Isaac:

Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson has reportedly declined to participate in a CNN-sponsored Oct. 30 debate with Republican Congressman Connie Mack, this according to a press release from Mack's campaign.

So, what do you do with a community college professor caught soliciting votes for a candidate? Particularly a presidential candidate in a red-hot swing state like Florida? You grant her request for a leave of absence without pay, effective immediately.

Gallup's latest poll of some3,050 voters shows Romney and Obama each polling at 47 percent. The poll's margin of erroris 3 percentage points. Real Clear Politics poll averages, which incorporate Gallup's latest, continue to show Obama leading Romney 48.3 percent to 45.2 percent. According to the same averages, if the election were held today, Obama would win re-election to the White House, with 332 electoral votes to Romney's 206. Real Clear Politics shows Obama leading in the Sunshine State with 48.1 percent to Romney's 46 percent.

The Florida State Board of Education will hold an emergency conference call on Tuesday to consider extending the deadline for applications for the position of commissioner of education. The deadline had been set for Sept. 27. The 8 a.m. call will be Webcast at http://www.fldoe.org.

Rep. Frank Artiles, R-Miami, will take his sharp criticism of Citizens Property Insurance Corp.s $350 million effort to incentivize private companies to take over some of the states policies to the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation when they meet Thursday.

Instead of five, there will be seven county school district superintendents given a month to cut the red tape that hinders teacher classroom time. A day after Gov. Rick Scott called for five superintendents to be charged with reducing the state education paperwork, the Florida Department of Education announced seven will be given the homework assignment.

The state has suspended the licenses of 81 massage therapists as part of an ongoing investigation into human trafficking. Gov. Rick Scott went to Tampa Wednesday afternoon to join State Surgeon General and Secretary of Health Dr. John Armstrong who signed the emergency suspension orders on licenses that were allegedly obtained fraudulently. Scott also directed Armstrong to head a seven-day review of massage schools to ensure they are complying with licensure requirements and regulations.

The political action committee of Associated Industries of Florida, one of the states largest business lobbying firms, has backed former Rep. Aaron Bean, of Fernandina Beach, and Rep. Jeff Brandes, R-St. Petersburg, in their respective Florida Senate contests. The endorsements are part of AIFs final round of endorsements for state House and Senate. Others receiving endorsements on Wednesday included: HOUSE District Candidate 7: Halsey Beshears (R) 17: Ron "Doc" Renuart (R) 49: Marco Pena (R)

Priorities USA Action, an independent expenditure political action committee ("super-PAC") supporting President Obama's re-election, has come out with a new ad slamming Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney's recent comments about the supposed "47 percent" of voters who are dependent on the welfare state:

Linda Huber, the sister of Democratic congressional candidate Keith Fitzgerald, today endorsed Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan's re-election, saying "Buchanan is exactly what we need in Congress."Huber praised Buchanans positive vision for creating jobs, restoring prosperity to America and protecting Medicare benefits for seniors. Verns background as a businessman is exactly what we need in Congress, Huber said in a statement today released by the Buchanan campaign.I support his agenda to grow the economy and create jobs while protecting Medicare."