Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, is backing Congressman Connie Mack, R-Fort Myers, in the GOPs U.S. Senate contest. Haridopolos, addressing the media during the APs annual legislative planning session in the Capitol, said he was returning the favor as Mack had backed him when he was in the contest to determine who will challenge U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Orlando, next year.

California businessman and former Reagan aide Fred Karger is calling for a boycott of Florida orange juice because of the early primary. Karger, who is also running for president as a Republican, is calling for the boycott to last for 30 days -- starting Nov. 1-- or "until Florida officials come to their senses."

A Suffolk University/7NEWS (WSVN-Miami) poll of registered voters in Florida released late Tuesday found President Barack Obama is in trouble in the Sunshine State.In a speech to the Florida Democratic Convention at Walt Disney World on Friday, Vice President Joe Biden said winning Florida is crucial to the president staying in the White House.

A year out from the 2010 Election, Gov. Rick Scott says hes enjoyed the process of solving problems in governing. I really enjoy trying to solve problems, thats what you do in business, Scott told reporters Tuesday. You sort of try to solve problems, that is one of the more enjoyable things about this. While he has been officially in office since Jan. 4, 2011, Scott added there are two differences with the current job and his former ones in the private business sector. One is driving. He doesnt drive as governor.

Former Gov. Buddy Roemer of Louisiana issued a statement late Tuesday about the fact he will not be on the Florida Republican presidential primary ballot.

Voters in Gadsden County will get to say if the new horse barrel-racing and poker room facility coming to Gretna will also offer slot machines. The Tallahassee Democrat is reporting that the Gadsden County Commission on Tuesday voted unanimously to include the referendumwith the Jan. 31, 2012, president preference primary.

With one year until Election Day, RPOF Chairman Lenny Curry likes the Republican Party's prospects in Florida. In a statement, Curry said: The past three years have taught us that big government cant solve the nations problems. The American people need real economic leadership and policies that spur innovative entrepreneurs to grow our economy. The Republican vision is to reduce the tax and regulatory burden and give job creators consistent policies so they can expand.

While other GOP presidential candidates have been contradictory or fuzzy on the immigration issue, Michele Bachmann blasted the federal government for blocking South Carolina's tough enforcement law. Saying she supports Gov. Nikki Haley "100 percent," the Minnesota congresswoman said, "The Obama administration has failed miserably in achieving border security, so shame on them for taking legal action against states who have been forced to do the job for them.

Gov. Rick Scott took a moment Tuesday to enjoy his decision earlier this year to reject federal money to create a bullet train between Orlando and Tampa. I hope everybody saw ... the headlines, Scott told a media gathering in his office. Cost projection for California bullet train jumps to nearly $100 billion dollars.

Florida will look to streamline the visa process for Brazilians, Gov. Rick Scott said Tuesday. Disney believes if you didnt have the visa requirement, it would double the number of people who came to their park, Scott said during a media gathering in his office Tuesday.

The Florida Retirement System stands at $121.14 billion, which is down $7 billion from a year ago and the head of the trust fund doesnt foresee the numberquickly increasing in the near future. Ash Williams, executive director of the Florida State Board of Administration, said with the uncertainty of a referendum in Greece on a European debt bailout, equity has dipped. Its definitely a time to mind our step, not have overly ambitious expectations, Williams said.

Supporters of expanded gambling and casino operations in Florida can expect a fight in 2012. That was the message from leaders of faith-based groups who held a media event in Tallahassee on Tuesday to announce their opposition to a bill backed by Sen. Ellyn Bogdnoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, and Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, that would open the door to large casinos being set up in the Sunshine State. Conservative leader John Stemberger from Florida Family Action drew a line in the sand and promised to fight any attempts to expand gambling in the Sunshine State.

The Republican National Committee (RNC) launched a Web video on Tuesday to mark three years since Barack Obama was elected president -- and one year till he faces voters in his bid for a second term.

The Florida Supreme Court has disciplined 24 attorneys, with 12 disbarred and 10 suspended, The Florida Bar announced Monday. Some attorneys received more than one discipline. Two attorneys were placed on probation, two received public reprimands and two were ordered to pay restitution. According to a Florida Bar release:

The deadline to submit proposals on how the state should redraw the boundary lines of Florida House, Senate and congressional districts is 5 p.m. Tuesday. The state has received more than 130 partial or complete maps. The Legislature is expected to use the maps as it redraws the lines during the 2012 session that begins in January. A decade ago, the state received four public proposals.