Republican presidential hopeful Texas Gov. Rick Perry slammed President Barack Obama on Tuesday after reports emerged that the administration intended to advance gay rights through foreign policy.

The House Redistricting Committee has released seven potential new lines for the state's congressional districts and five maps for the state House. The committee meets at 2 p.m. to review the maps. To view the options visit www.floridaredistricting.org or directly via http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/Sections/Redistricting/Redistricting2012.aspx.

A tough new ad released by Rep. Ron Paul challenges Newt Gingrich's "serial hypocrisy." View the video here. Paul, running second in some Iowa polls, is looking to crack the first tier heading into New Hampshire, where a weakened Mitt Romney hopes to regather his stagnant campaign. The departure of Herman Cain has put conservative and tea party voters up for grabs, as Sunshine State News reported here today.

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich is leading the pack of Republican presidential candidates in South Carolina, which will hold its primary after Iowa and New Hampshire have their say. Gingrich leads a Winthrop University poll of likely Republican primary voters, unveiled on Tuesday, with 38 percent. Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts places second with 22 percent.

A national appearance asking questions of Republican presidential candidates doesnt get one a bigger Christmas tree. Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam presented Gov. Rick Scott and other state officials Tuesday with a Christmas tree in the Capitol.

Newt Gingrich and Jon Huntsman will meet Monday for a Lincoln-Douglas style debate on foreign policy and national security. The two campaigns invited the Southern New Hampshire 9-12 Project and St. Anselm's College Republicans to co-sponsor the event, which will be conducted at the Institute of Politics in Manchester, N.H. The time was set for 4 p.m or 5 p.m., with CSPAN coverage to be determined. True to the duration of the original Lincoln-Douglas showdown, the Huntsman-Gingrich debate is scheduled to run three hours.

Irish bookmakers Paddy Power have made former House Speaker Newt Gingrich an 8-15 favorite to win Iowa, and he's now even money with former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, both at 5-4 odds, to capture the Republican presidential nomination. However, the oddsmakers continue to have President Barack Obama as the favorite to win next November. They didn't release odds of the GOP field for the Jan. 31 Florida primary.

A Florida TaxWatch report says the state's hurricane insurance system is underfunded and overexposed, and needs reform to protect Floridians. The current insurance system puts taxpayers on the hook for potentially billions in assessments, while providing little assurance that their claims will be paid in the event of a catastrophic hurricane or series of hurricanes, said Dominic M. Calabro, Florida TaxWatch president and CEO.

Southern Strategy Group has joined the extensive team of lobbying professionals working for the Florida Chamber of Commerce. The addition of SSG to the Florida Chamber lobbying program takes Floridas voice of business to over 30 lobbyists, making it one of the largest and most experienced business lobbying programs in Tallahassee, a release from the Chamber states. The following is from the release:

With state legislators returning to Tallahassee for the final committee week before the 2012 regular session, Associated Industries of Florida, which has started to run pro-"destination resort" ads on North Florida cable stations, has also released its legislative priorities for the 2012 session that begins in just over one month.

Parents could be electronically notified when law enforcement makes a report on their teenage driver, under a bill filed by Rep. Richard L. Steinberg, D-Miami Beach, and Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker. Under the bill, HB 571 and SB 854, parents would have the option to be notified whenever a ticket or traffic violation is issued, a crash is reported or the license is suspended.

Making his second bid for the Republican nomination and his third attempt at the White House, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas is hitting the airwaves in Iowa and New Hampshire. A new ad from the Paul team stresses the maverick Texas congressmans positions against federal spending -- and plays up his plan to eliminate five federal departments. Paul is battling former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts for second place behind former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich in most Iowa polls.

Not so fast, Florida taxpayers. You thought the eco-terrorist attorneys were going away without a fight? No way. There's too much money on the table. Besides, they believe there is a principle at stake -- that if they lose, every Floridian seeking to exercise his or her right to appeal a court decision will lose, too. Here's what just happened:

In the first national poll released after businessman Herman Cain pulled out of the Republican presidential race, former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich leads the pack. In a Poll Position poll released on Monday, Gingrich takes 37 percent. Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts is in second place with 23 percent. A Poll Position poll released last week had Gingrich at 32 percent, Romney at 23 percent and Cain at 14 percent.

Social conservative Phyllis Schlafly endorsed Michele Bachmann for president and is urging Iowans to caucus for her, Bachmanns campaign told the Des Moines Register Sunday night. In a written statement, Schlafly said: Most important, Michele has the courage to be a leader among her peers. She is a real champion in speaking up for values we care about. Michele is a woman of faith and the mother of a beautiful family. She has a 100 percent pro-life record and is a strong supporter of traditional marriage.