Conservative businessman Ron Rushing, a dark horse candidate for the Republican nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, had a busy weekend, speaking to Fair Tax supporters in Sanford and redesigning his campaign website which is scheduled to launch this week. Rushing took aim at elected officeholders, arguing that while they talk about change they do not deliver.

U.S. Senate candidate Mike Haridopolos picked up another endorsement from another top Florida Republican over the weekend. State Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam announced his support for the state Senate president, calling Haridopolos "a true leader who has proven he will take on the tough issues that face our nation and is the conservative who can win this race." Putnam, who left Congress to run for Ag commissioner, said, "I know that Mike Haridopolos has what it takes to tackle the debt and spending problems in Washington."

Gov. Scott is faced with split loyalties Monday after the much-hyped Miami Heat lost Game 6 of the NBA Finals to the Dallas Mavericks Sunday night. Scott lost his bet with his role-model politician, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, over the series, and must now give him a Florida key lime pie. Now, another like-minded governor, John Kasich of Ohio, is pouring salt in the wound.

Stating that the "fire in his belly" was really "heartburn," state Sen. Mike Bennett, R-Bradenton, said he will not seek office in the U.S. House of Representatives. Bennett filed to run for U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor's 11th Congressional District seat two weeks ago, but has now changed his mind. But Bennett also stated that his political career is not quite over yet. Here is his statement in full:

As GOP presidential candidates prep for their debate Monday evening in New Hampshire, the Republican National Committee is getting ready for the 2012 election cycle, announcing regional press secretaries Monday. Ryan Mahoney will take on the Western U.S. for the party, with Ryan Tronovitch taking the Eastern U.S. Joining them is Victoria Martinez as specialty media press secretary, assisting Tyler Brown and Kirsten Kukowski, who were already installed as deputy communications director and press secretary, respectively.

Businessman and retired Army officer Mike McCalister, who took more than 10 percent in the 2010 Republican gubernatorial primary and is now in the crowded primary to take on Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, has been busy assembling an impressive team for his campaign staff. From Politico:

With President Barack Obama in Miami on Monday to raise money for his 2012 campaign, former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, his eyes on the Republican nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, hit the Democrats in a new ad.

Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux has been playing up his record on pushing for a balanced budget as he attempts to win the Republican nomination to take on Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, but this weekend he focused on his record on social issues. LeMieux was the keynote speaker for the Miami-Dade Family, Faith, and Freedom Luncheon, backed by the Christian Family Coalition, and insisted that social issues would be important in the 2012 election.

Attacking "judicial activism" in Florida, a conservative coalition says it will target selected judges in the 2012 elections. Citizen2Citizen, the East Side Tea Party and the Central Florida Tea Party Council will announce their campaign Monday evening in Orlando.

Maybe Rep. Anthony Weiner was paying attention Wednesday night when former Congressman Mark Foley told his story, because Weiner, 46, disclosed to a friend and former aide that he will enter a treatment program for sexual dysfunction and request a leave of absence from Congress.

Ending a week of silence, Democratic National Committee Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz issued a statement Saturday calling on New York Democratic Rep. Anthony Weiner to resign. It is with great disappointment that I call on Representative Anthony Weiner to resign, said Rep. Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla. The behavior he has exhibited is indefensible and Representative Weiners continued service in Congress is untenable.

Gov. Rick Scott is touting more jobs in Florida as the result of Canadian ventures in the Sunshine State. Scott has been in Canada this week meeting with companies, and Friday highlighted two companies -- Toronto Sky Aviation (TSA) and UCC Steelwork Connections -- that are adding more than 100 jobs in Florida. TSA is starting up Aircraft Armature, an aircraft repair company, and is putting its headquarters in a 30,000-square-foot facility in Opa Locka. The move is expected to create 100 jobs in the next three years.

A new movie with a favorable slant on former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin's rise to national prominence, culminating in her being tapped to be John McCain's vice presidential running mate in 2008, will open in Orlando along with a dozen other cities around the country on July 15. It will be shown in AMC movie theaters. The Undefeated will also be unveiled in Dallas, Denver, Oklahoma City, Atlanta, Orange County, Phoenix, Houston, Indianapolis and Kansas City next month, but early primary states like Iowa will be able to get a sneak preview.

Rising conservative star Florida Republican U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio will hit the Senate floor on Tuesday when he makes his maiden speech. Rubio sent out a message to supporters on Friday and released a web video to prepare for the event.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, the front-runner for the Republican presidential notification in 2012, announced on Thursday that his campaign would not take part in straw polls, including one in Orlando in September. The team behind former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah, who has expressed interest in entering the primaries but has yet to formally announce his candidacy, insisted their candidate would enter the Florida straw poll if he runs.