Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney and Ron Paul scored a virtual three-way tie in an online poll hosted by the Sarasota Republican Party. The poll of 2,108 Florida Republicans from 62 of the state's 67 counties showed Gingrich and Romney each grabbing 25 percent of the vote. Ron Paul garnered 24 percent. Rick Santorum was the only other candidate in double digits, with 11 percent.

Trying to stay alive in the Republican presidential race and hoping to place in the top four in the Iowa caucus on Tuesday night, Texas Gov. Rick Perry made his final pitch in the Hawkeye State.

Paddy Power, the largest odds keeper in Ireland, looked out at the Iowa caucus and made Mitt Romney the favorite to win the event on Tuesday night. The former Massachusetts governor gets even odds to win the caucus. Rick Santorum and Ron Paul are tied for second with 2-1 odds each, followed by Newt Gingrich at 20-1, Rick Perry at 33-1 and Michele Bachmann at 50-1. Jon Huntsman, who has ignored the caucus, is a severe underdog at 100-1.

Those who want to participate in the Jan. 31 primary must register or change party affiliation Tuesday. Florida is a closed primary state, which means only Republicans can vote in the Republican primary. To check on the status of your registration or the status of a requested absentee ballot, go here. To contact your county supervisor of elections go here.

Growing tension in the Strait of Hormuz, mixed with signs of an improved U.S. economy, have helped push the price of gas in Florida up 6 cents in the past week, according to AAA. "We're likely to begin the new year with a rally of optimism in the oil market as the U.S. economy is forecast to continue to improve, coupled with concerns over Iranian tension and the possibility of a disruption in the country's oil exports," Jessica Brady, AAA spokeswoman, stated in a release.

Leo J. Lee Fallon and Debra B. Glass have been appointed to the Board of Pharmacy by Gov. Rick Scott. According to a release from the governor's office: "Fallon, 71, of The Villages, has been a pharmacy manager at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. since 1989. With more than four decades of varied pharmacy experience, his practice has included small and large regional and national companies ranging from Thrift Drug, Walgreens Pharmacy, Gray Drug and Lees Pharmacy.

Gov. Rick Scott has named Scott D. Strepina to the Hillsborough County Civil Service Board. According to a release from the governors office: Strepina, 33, of Tampa, is the owner of SDS Marketing LLC. He succeeds Heidi N. Swanson and is appointed for a term beginning Dec. 20, 2011 and ending July 2, 2013.

Attorney General Pam Bondi has asked the 4th District Court of Appeals to give a procedural ruling regarding a decision she intends to appeal to the state Supreme Court. Bondi filed a motion Friday requesting the 4th DCA to certify its decision in Law Offices of David Stern PA v. State of Florida.

An organization of foreign investors announced in a survey released Sunday that the United States will remain the top choice of most global commercial real estate investors in 2012, even though it's lost ground to No. 2 Brazil.

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Miguel A. Rodriguez and Jonathan A. Toppe to the Board of Architecture and Interior Design. According to a release from the governors office: Rodriguez, 54, of Coral Gables, is the president of Rodriguez Architects. He succeeds E. Wendell Hall and is appointed for a term beginning Dec. 15, 2011, and ending Oct. 31, 2015. Toppe, 65, of St. Petersburg, is the president of Toppe Consultants Inc. He succeeds Johnstone N. Reid and is appointed for a term beginning Dec. 15, 2011, and ending Oct. 31, 2013.

Gov. Rick Scott has reappointed Toni K. Crawford andDr. Steven Wallace to the Children and Youth Cabinet. According to a release from the governors office. Crawford, 71, of Ponte Vedra Beach, is a community volunteer and current chair of the Early Learning Coalition of Duval Inc. She is reappointed for a term beginning Dec. 16, 2011, and ending Aug. 27, 2015.

Gov. Rick Scott has appointed Suzanne C. Wilhoite to the Board of Cosmetology. According to a release from the governors office: Wilhoite, 52, of Jacksonville, is a self-employed cosmetologist. She succeeds Rosabel Ramos and is appointed for a term beginning Dec. 16, 2011, and ending Oct. 31, 2014. The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Florida Senate.

Gov. Rick Scott appointed M. Afzal Choudhry to the Florida Rehabilitation Council. According to a release from the governors office: Choudhry, 46, of Windermere, is a self-employed neurophysician. He succeeds Suzanne Hutcheson and is appointed for a term beginning Dec. 20, 2011, and ending June 30, 2014.

Apparently getting thrown off the federal bench wasn't Alcee Hastings' only setback. The Miramar Democrat currently ranks as the "poorest" member of Congress, $4,732,002 in the red. At the top of the Capitol Hill money heap is Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., whose listed net worth of $448,125,017. A roster of the 25 wealthiest members of Congress compiled by the Center for Responsive Politics lists 13 Republicans and 12 Democrats. As for the poorest lawmakers, 10 were Republicans and 15 were Democrats.

Revised Florida congressional and Senate redistricting maps released Friday will go before Senate committees on Jan. 11, 2012. Reapportionment Committee Chairman Sen. Don Gaetz, R-Niceville, informed members of the committee that the bills containing the proposed once-a-decade redistricted maps are currently on schedule to be heard by the Senate on Jan. 17, after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.