A poll from Suffolk University unveiled late Wednesday shows that former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts was crushing the field in New Hampshire Today, Mitt Romney is the clear front-runner in the New Hampshire Republican Primary but front-runner status has its drawbacks, said David Paleologos, director of the Suffolk University Political Research Center. He will quickly become the target, and like Hillary Clinton a year before the 2008 party primaries, being positioned as the inevitable nominee is often followed by a decline in the polls.

A slow-speed train crash in Orlando might be a metaphor for Central Florida's proposed SunRail train. Opponents of the commuter line see danger ahead, pointing to the near-fatal run-in between a CSX freight train and a Toyota Prius Tuesday night. "Though the car driver was clearly at fault because he didnt see the guardrails come down, Florida Taxpayers would be paying for this accident under the language that will be enacted once the sale of the CSX corridor to the state is complete," said Beth Dillaha, head of a new group calling itself VETO SunRail.

Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, offered his take on the House joining the Senate in forwarding a constitutional amendment allowing Floridians to opt out of the federal health-care law backed by President Barack Obama.

As expected, U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz was elected chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC) on Wednesday and vowed to lead the fight for President Barack Obamas re-election. Wasserman Schultz takes over from former Gov. Tim Kaine of Virginia who left the DNC to run for the U.S. Senate in 2012.

The Florida House joined the Senate in forwarding a proposed constitutional amendment to voters allowing residents of the state to opt out of the federal health-care law backed by President Barack Obama. The proposed amendment passed the House on a near party-lines vote, 80-37.

CBS News reported Wednesday that President Obama has decided not to release photos of the body of al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden. Apparently Obama told 60 Minutes reporter Steve Kroft of his decision during an interview scheduled to air Sunday.

Signaling continued sharp division over Obamacare, a slight majority of U.S. voters believe market competition -- not more government involvement -- is the better way to reduce health-care costs, a new poll reports. A Rasmussen telephone survey finds that 51 percent of likely voters say free-market competition between insurance companies will do more to bring down health-care costs than more government regulation.Thirty-one percent favor increased regulation and 18 percent are not sure.

The Florida Senate readied two pro-life bills Wednesday for a final vote, which would require stricter parental notice requirements for minors seeking abortions and allow women to see video and hear a description of an ultrasound before getting an abortion.

The Florida House joined the Senate on Wednesday in passing the Healthy Schools for Healthy Lives Act which would pave the way for local farmers to work with school districts to include more fruits and vegetables in school breakfast and lunch programs, and would switch control over school lunch programs from the state Department of Education to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The bill, which was a high priority for Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, now heads to Gov. Rick Scott who is expected to sign it.

A stripped-down immigration bill sailed through the Florida Senate Wednesday with no debate on the issue. The vote came down 23-16, with Republican members of the Hispanic caucus taking a position against the bill. The bill was discussed at length in the Senate Tuesday, as an amendment that would have imposed penalties on businesses that were found to have employed undocumented workers without using the federal E-Verify system failed to make it onto the bill.

On Wednesday morning the House passed a bill backed by Rep. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, to expand high-performing charter schools and would give them the ability to apply for charters for up to as many as 15 years. Stargels bill passed, 87-27. The reason I like this bill is it allows us to copy success, said Rep. Daniel Davis, R-Jacksonville. We are able to emulate the good charter schools. We are able to expand them. Democrats spoke against the proposal, arguing that the Legislature should focus on improving other public schools.

With three days left in the legislative session, those pushing for reforms to Florida's insurance market, especially to state-run Citizens Property Insurance, are bemoaning the lack of bold legislative reforms that made it through the lawmaking process this year.

While their reading scores have been nothing to write home about, Florida students continue to post top numbers in the FCAT writing battery. The state Department of Education announced Wednesday that pupils in grades 4, 8 and 10 scored "historic highs" on the writing test this year. Our educators continue to rise to the occasion, answering the call of increased expectations for our students to ensure they are leaving school ready for the next step, said Florida Education Commissioner Dr. Eric J. Smith.

Ben Smith over at Politico has the video of the day -- former Gov. Charlie Crist running a commercial for Morgan & Morgan, the legal firm he is now working for.

Democrats in the Senate voted unanimously on Wednesday to name Sen. Chris Smith of Fort Lauderdale to serve as their next leader. Smith will take the reins from current Senate Democratic Leader Nan Rich of Sunrise after the 2012 elections. I am proud of the confidence my caucus has shown in me said Smith. Florida faces many problems over the next few years and I look forward to leading the Democratic Caucus as we craft solutions.