Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux is taking aim at former House Majority Leader Adam Hasner as the Republican primary battle to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012 heats up. Hasner has gathered the support of some prominent conservatives at the state and national levels -- including, on Friday, the backing of the Family Research Council Action PAC. In a new Web video, the LeMieux team is trying to argue that Hasner is a phony conservative" -- an argument they have made at a campaign website.

Less than two weeks after Lenny Curry took the reins as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF), Executive Director Andy Palmer announced in a statement released on Monday that he would be stepping down on Oct. 14. Palmer -- who had held the same post in 2005-2006 -- had been serving in that position since January. He will be joining the law firm of Metz, Husband and Daugthon, PA, as a senior policy adviser. Republican leaders from across the state praised Palmer on Monday.

U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota released a Web video on Monday as she continues her bid for the Republican presidential nomination. In the video, Bachmann argued that conservatives should stick to their principles and not back a moderate for the GOP nomination. I wont settle, said Bachmann, who pledged to fight for greater support of Israel, and against abortion and illegal immigration.

Gov. Rick Scott appointed former state Rep. Christopher T. Corr to the board of governors of the State University System.

Possibly my favorite Twitter posting of the day: Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam tweeted that he was Getting a firsthand look at the giant African land snail infestation in Miami. The tweet linked to Putnam's Facebook page, where a series of photos were posted of his visit Friday to Coral Gables to witness firsthand the infestation.

Floridians may get two more chances to see the Republican candidates in debate settings in the week before the Jan. 31 primary. Shortly after Florida's primary selection committee voted 7-2 on Friday to hold the state's primary the last day in January, the Republican Party of Florida and CNN announced they will co-host a debate in the Sunshine State. No date was mentioned other than "late January." A release from CNN states that will allow the GOP candidates for president to make a last pitch to Florida voters before the state's primary.

The House Redistricting Committee and subcommittees will meet Monday, Oct. 3, to review the public input received at the redistricting hearings held throughout Florida this summer. Meeting times as announced by the House on Friday: Congressional Redistricting Committee Meeting:Monday, Oct. 312:30 p.m.2:30 p.m. EDT 404 House Office Bldg., Tallahassee. House Redistricting Subcommittee Meeting:Monday, Oct. 33 p.m.5 p.m. EDT 404 House Office Bldg., Tallahassee.

Former Gov. Claude Kirk's body, in a flag-draped coffin, was brought to the Old Capitol Friday afternoon. Kirk, 85, was the first Republican governor of Florida in the 20th century.

Two of the Republican presidential candidates launched Web videos on Friday taking aim at one of their rivals -- Gov. Rick Perry of Texas -- on immigration. Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts unveiled a video that blasted Perrys record and featured a clip of former Mexican President Vincente Fox praising the governor of the Lone Star State.

A Florida poll released late on Thursday by SurveyUSA for WFLA-TV in Tampa found that former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts led the Republican presidential candidates in the Sunshine State with businessman Herman Cain, who won the Presidency 5 straw poll in Orlando last week, right on his heels.

On Friday, former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, now running in a crowded Republican primary to take on Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, announced that he had won the backing of one of the most prominent social and religious conservative organizations in the country -- the Family Research Council (FRC) Action PAC.

With Florida poised to select Jan. 31 for its primary date, the chairs of the Iowa, New Hampshire, Nevada and South Carolina Republican parties have issued a joint statement declaring they will move up their primary and caucus dates if necessary. Read the release:

Former Gov. Claude Kirk, who died at his West Palm Beach home on Wednesday, will lie in state Friday from 1 p.m.-3 p.m. in the Old Capitol in Tallahassee. Kirk, 85, was Floridas first Republican governor since Reconstruction, serving from 1967 to 1971. A processional, with Kirks family accompanying his body, is scheduled to arrive at 12:30 p.m. on the East Portico of the Old Capitol.

House Speaker Dean Cannon said the House has joined the appeal of a trial court's ruling that rejected the challenge to the Fair Districts' Amendment 6 by U.S. Reps. Corrine Brown, D-Jacksonville, and Mario Diaz-Balart, R-Miami.

A poll from Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with connections to prominent Democrats, found that President Barack Obama would have a fight to keep Florida in his column in 2012 as two Republican candidates -- former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas -- were right on his heels in the Sunshine State.