Increasingly emerging as one of the leading candidates running for the Republican presidential nomination to take on President Barack Obama in 2012, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota unveiled a new television ad that is hitting the airwaves in Iowa. Bachmann, who was born in Iowa, plays up her roots in the new ad. With the Iowa caucus serving as the opening round of the nomination contest, Bachmann is increasingly looking all in to win it -- and emerge as the conservative alternative to GOP front-runner Mitt Romney who is doubling down on the New Hampshire primary.

Saying President Obama and the Democrats have no plan to rescue Medicare from insolvency, U.S. Rep. Allen West slapped back at a liberal activist group that launched a Facebook ad campaign against him. Americans United for Change this week attacked the Florida Republican for "favoring corporate jets over health care for seniors" by supporting Rep. Paul Ryan's budget plan.

Now former President Bill Clinton, President Barack Obama's all-the-way-left arm, is hammering away at Florida Gov. Rick Scott. Speaking to a group of liberal youth activists Wednesday, Clinton evoked measures in battleground states like Florida and Ohio that he claims work like magic to make Democrat voters go away. He mentioned Scott's move to automatically remove convicted felons' voting rights for a number of years before they can apply to get them back.

The countdown is under way unimpeded -- in spite of weather patterns that don't look entirely promising. Nevertheless, space shuttle Atlantis is still scheduled to lift off at 11:26 a.m.

In a video now up on Sunshine State News, James Rhea, director of the First Amendment Foundation, gives a succinct rundown of bills presented this session that critically affect open government laws in Florida. Have a look at this "Snap" feature by clicking here.

(updated and correcting number of states)

Groups wishing to protest or demonstrate at the funerals of military members, emergency first responders, politicians and children must do so 500 feet away from the property of the area where the service is being held -- if a bill filed Wednesday by Rep. Pat Rooney, R-Palm Beach Gardens, makes it into law.

Well, that didnt take long. A day after the decision was announced in the Casey Anthony case, Rep. Bill Hager, R-Boca Raton, announced on Wednesday that he would back Caylees Law, making it a felony for a parent or legal guardian who does not notify the authorities of a missing child in a timely fashion.

Defense attorney Cheney Mason could be treading on thin ice with the Florida Bar. The leader of Casey Anthony's defense team took time out from Tuesday's celebration to give an obscene one-fingered salute to someone in the crowd. Given his tongue-lashing of TV "talking heads" immediately after Anthony's acquittal, the recipient of Mason's middle digit was likely a member of the media. The Bar, which regulates the conduct and professionalism of attorneys in the state, may not be amused by either act.

The Republican National Committee pounced on a piece in The Hill posted in the Washington, D.C., publication Wednesday, which runs down the differences between President Barack Obama and Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz, a congresswoman from Weston.

The Republican National Committee wants to crash #AskObama on Wednesday afternoon. Heating up some "hot topics," the RNC is prompting these questions about jobs and the economy: 1. Where Are The Jobs? #AskObama 2. Why Should You Not Be Held Responsible For Your Promise That Unemployment Wouldnt Go Above 8 Percent W/Stimulus? #AskObama?? 3. You Promised To Cut The Deficit In Half By The End Of Your First Term But Actually Increased It. Is This A Failure Of Leadership? #AskObama

Keep an eye on conservative First Coast activist Kim Kendall. Kendall has filed to run as a Republican for the state House seat currently held by Rep. Mike Weinstein, R-Jacksonville, which represents parts of Clay, Duval and St. Johns counties. With redistricting taking place in early 2012, Kendall, who lives in the northern part of St. Johns County, may be moved over to the House seat currently held by term-limited Rep. Bill Proctor, R-St. Augustine.

Here's a surprise: Tea party favorite Jason Chaffetz, the Utah congressmen likely to run for the U.S. Senate in 2012, is set to endorse Republican presidential candidate and front-runner Mitt Romney later Wednesday. What's so odd -- apart from the fact that a desert separates Romney and the tea party movement on a host of issues -- is that Chaffetz is backing the former Massachussetts governor over former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman. Chaffetz worked as Huntsman's chief of staff during his two-year employ under Huntsman.

Seems that everyone except judges is scratching their head over a Florida court ruling that allows an illegal alien to collect workers' compensation benefits. A panel of the 1st District Court of Appeal in Tallahassee ruled on Tuesday that Luis Aragon was entitled to benefits after falling from a roof at a Jacksonville job site, suffering injuries to his foot and arm.

Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, now in a crowded Republican primary field to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, is looking to make political hay out of the last space shuttle flight which is scheduled for Friday. This Friday is schedule to be Titusvilles last shuttle flight, noted LeMieux on Tuesday. As a U.S. senator, I will fight for NASA and the 23,000 space jobs. Unfortunately, Senator Nelson and President Obama are content to let these jobs disappear.