The gubernatorial candidates weighed in on the news Friday that the state's unemployment rate went up in September -- and both Democratic nominee state CFO Alex Sink and Republican candidate Rick Scott focused on their experience creating jobs in the private sector.

Juan Williams is nervous about Muslim-garbed passengers on airplanes. NPR ought to be nervous about the impending Republican tide sweeping over Congress. National Propaganda Radio's firing of Williams for alleged Islamophobia has spawned a political backlash, and when the liberal Williams is backed by conservatives, you know it's serious. Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., plans to introduce legislation to end federal funding of NPR. His move follows a House bill, sponsored by Rep. Doug Lamborn, R-Colo., that would do the same thing.

While former President George W. Bush and his Vice President Dick Cheney have been conspicuously absent from the campaign trail, you haven't heard the last of them.

The candidates in the U.S. Senate race are weighing in on Florida's continued high unemployment --11.9 percent in September.

Fans attending Saturday's UNC-Miami game can arrive an hour earlier than usual. The parking gates will open at 2:30 p.m., a full five hours before the scheduled 7:30 p.m. kickoff. Previously, the lots opened four hours ahead of gametime. Tailgaters also will be directed to specific parking rows. Before now, the first hour of the lot opening was a free for all, with early arrivals scattering everywhere. Officials are now determined to regulate with added staff and security.

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack sent a letter to President Barack Obama urging the administration to reconsider allowing Russia into the World Trade Organization (WTO) due to that nations support of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavezs nuclear ambitions.

Republicans won't say it publicly (yet), but deep within the latest Sunshine State News Poll is the key to Rick Scott's victory. The survey shows Scott struggling to solidify his support among Republicans -- and falling short 1 or 2 percentage points in the GOP vote could provide Democrat Alex Sink with the margin of victory. As pollster Jim Lee says:

At a campaign event in Sarasota on Friday morning, Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach, the Democratic candidate for attorney general, called for the creation of a unit in the attorney generals office to investigate investment fraud. Gelber also weighed in on Arthur Nadel, a Sarasota resident who was sentenced to 14 years due to leading a ponzi scheme.

On Friday morning, the Agency for Workforce Innovation (AWI) announced that the unemployment rate continued to grow in Florida during September. AWI revealed that the unemployment rate increased from 11.8 percent in August to 11.9 percent in September -- meaning 1,100,000 Floridians out of a pool of 9,242,000 were out of work. More than 11,000 Floridians lost their jobs in August.

Republican U.S. Sen. George LeMieux praised Guillermo Faris, an opponent of Fidel Castro who received the European Parliament Sakharov Prize honoring freedom and human rights.

Republicans are coming out in force for early voting. Supervisor of elections' offices around Florida are reporting more than 750,000 absentee and early votes already cast in just the first couple of days, and Republicans have the clear advantage. The Republican Party of Florida published these numbers today:

Mike Prendergast, the Republican candidate challenging Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, unveiled his jobs plan on Thursday. While he is an underdog, Prendergast, a retired colonel in the Army who served on the staff of former U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, has won the backing of prominent national Republicans including former Gov. Jeb Bush and former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich. Prendergast called for reforming jobs programs set up by President Barack Obama's federal stimulus -- a measure which the Republican candidate opposed.

Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running for the U.S. Senate with no party affiliation, is attacking Republican rival Marco Rubio, the front-runner in the race, for campaigning with former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin on Saturday -- prompting the Rubio team to hit back.

Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack took aim at President Barack Obama on Thursday over a proposal for the Justice Department to have more authority to wiretap -- including mobile communication devices.

Conservative icon Phyllis Schlafly and the Eagle Forum PAC endorsed Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott on Thursday. Rick Scott was instrumental in informing and mobilizing the grass-roots in the battle against Obamacare, said Schlafly. Hes a proven conservative and a proven success as an executive. Schlafly went out of her way to praise Rep. Jennifer Carroll of Jacksonville whom Scott named as his running mate for lieutenant governor.