Expect Florida to once again be the political frontline in November as a new poll shows a tight contest between President Barack Obama and former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts to take the 29 Electoral College votes in the Sunshine State. A poll of likely Florida voters taken by Rasmussen Reports shows that Romney takes 46 percent of those surveyed while Obama is right on his heels with 45 percent. While 4 percent remain undecided, 5 percent say they plan on backing other candidates in the race.

U.S. Rep. Sandy Adams is facing a challenging primary in August when she clashes with fellow Florida Republican U.S. Rep. John Mica. Adams played up her stances on immigration on Tuesday when Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the Arizona law enforcement official who has won national attention on immigration and investigating President Barack Obamas birth certificate, backed her re-election. In his endorsement, Arpaio pointed to Adams record in law enforcement and in Tallahassee.

Attorney and veteran Ron DeSantis continues to gain the support of conservatives at the national level as he runs in a crowded Republican primary for a new congressional seat ranging from the First Coast to Volusia County. On Tuesday, Citizens United Political Victory Fund (CUPVF) announced they were backing DeSantis and contributing $5,000 to his campaign. Citizens United is best known for itssuccessfulappeal to the Supreme Court on campaign finance laws.

Businessman Donald Trump, who flirted with running for the Republican presidential nomination, will be honored by a county Republican Party in Florida on the eve of the GOP convention in Tampa. On Monday, the Republican Party of Sarasota County announced that Trump, who had also been open to running as the Reform Partys presidential candidate back in the 2000 election cycle, would be honored as the 2012 Statesman of the Year at a dinner on Aug. 26 -- the day before the GOP convention opens.

Scott touched on the prospects of defense spending impacts on Florida and aerospace jobs as the Florida Pavilion was opened at the Farnborough International Air Show on Monday.

Interviews with candidates for the board of trustees at Floridas newest public university will be held Wednesday in Orlando. About a dozen finalists for the Florida Polytechnic University board of trustees will be interviewed by members of the Board of Governors Trustee Nominating and Development Committee. The Board of Governors is expected to hold a special meeting later this month to discuss the five nominations recommended by the committee.

Four Florida public high schools landed in the top 10 of magnet schools on U.S. News and World Reports 2012 list of Best High Schools based on academic focus and success. 2. Design & Architecture Senior High School (Miami-Dade).5. Young Womens Academy (Miami-Dade). 6. Suncoast Community High School (Palm Beach). 7. Stanton College Preparatory School (Duval).

Presidential campaigns are not like youth soccer. Not everyone gets a trophy for merely participating. While some of the losing candidates can position themselves for the future, raise their profile or, like Mike Huckabee and Alan Keyes back in the day, get their owntelevisionshow, some of them pave the way for their political downfalls. Case in point -- a Republican congressman who was starting to gain a foothold of a national following before he ran for president and quickly imploded.

The Enterprise Florida mission to England headed by Gov. Rick Scott is getting its first view of the Farnborough International Airshow on Monday. The governors schedule for Monday includes: Morning and afternoon economic development meetings at the Farnborough Aerodrome, a tour of -- and inauguration of -- the Florida Pavilion at the air show, and a welcome reception and a dinner at the Natural History Museum in London.

Gas prices jumped 7 cents on average across Florida as pump prices had their first increase since April upon bullish trading, according to AAA. And the trend now should be for the prices to continue to grow. "Although oil prices retreated at the end of last week, it's likely motorists have seen the last of the summer price reductions at the pump," Jessica Brady, AAA spokeswoman, stated in a release.

Gov. Rick Scott appointed four judges on Friday, but none involving the state Supreme Court. Scott named: Thomas W. Logue, of Coral Gables, to the 3rd District Court of Appeal; Judith Duggan Davidson, of Ormond Beach, to the Volusia County Court; Judge Ross L. Bilbrey, of Pace, to the 1st Judicial Circuit Court; and Lynn D. Rosenthal, of Coral Springs, to the 17th Judicial Circuit Court. Logue

Gov. Rick Scott and other members of the Enterprise Florida entourage jetting off to London on Saturday, will get an update about the trade mission early Sunday at the Hilton London Kensington Hotel. About 85 business and government officials are along for the $1,000-a-head trip that is centered around promoting Floridas aerospace interests at the Farnborough International Airshow.

Backers of the states newest university, Florida Polytechnic University, have launched a blog -- http://blog.floridapolyvision.com/ -- to give updates on the creation of the Lakeland campus. A lot has been accomplished so far for Florida Polytechnic to begin its journey to become a high-standard, innovative institution for future STEM graduates, Vic Story, co-chair for Florida Poly Vision, stated in a release.

The nation's 80,000 added jobs in June fall far below the number hoped-for to significantly reduce the backlog of nearly 13 million unemployed -- causing the Dow to open Friday down 80 points and falling. The Labor Department reported Friday morning, after a revised increase of 77,000 in May, that America's unemployment rate remains at 8.2 percent.

Floridians billed without their consent for online videos, games and music may be eligible for a share of a $2 million settlement with Washington-based RealNetworks Inc., Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Thursday. According to the attorney generals office, the websites including Rhapsody, Superpass and Gamepass -- failed to disclose clearly that subscribers would be charged after initial free trial periods. The state will notify individuals that were charged because they failed to uncheck pre-checked consent boxes.