Weeks after losing the Republican gubernatorial primary to Rick Scott, Attorney General Bill McCollum sent out an email to supporters, pledging to remain active and work for Republicans in Novembers elections -- but still not backing Scott.

With the AFL-CIO sending out a mailing attacking his opposition to the federal stimulus backed by President Barack Obama, Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott is firing away at the White Houses economics program--and trying to link his Democratic opponent, state CFO Alex Sink, to the administration.

John Stemberger, president and general counsel of the Florida Family Policy Council, sent out an email to supporters on Monday reporting that his organizations website had been hacked by a radical Muslim hacker. We have some rather stunning and almost unbelievable news that we need to report, wrote Stemberger. Late last week, we were attacked and the code of our FFPC website at FLFamily.org was completely disabled and destroyed by a radical Muslim hacker.

Federal probation officials apparently are recommending that Debra Villegas, a co-conspirator in Scott Rothstein's billion-dollar ponzi scheme, be sentenced to more than 10 years in prison. Villegas' attorney reportedly filed an objection to the undisclosed recommendation over the weekend, saying she deserved less than the max because of her cooperation with federal agents and prosecutors. U.S. District Judge William Zloch is scheduled to hand down Villegas' sentence on Oct. 8 in Fort Lauderdale.

U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, the Democratic nominee in the U.S. Senate race, continued on Monday to hammer Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running in the race without party affiliation. Meek, who is in third place and looking to stop Democrats from backing Crist, ran a new web video, taking shots at new commercials that Crist has run stressing his abilities to bridge Republicans and Democrats and pledging to take the best ideas from both parties.

With Gov. Charlie Crist running two new ads for his bid without party affiliation to the U.S. Senate, touting his independence from the Democrats and the Republicans, the campaign team of Republican rival fired off a return volley on Monday morning.

Former Rep. Dennis Ross, the Republican nominee to replace U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam who is running to be Floridas next commissioner of agriculture and consumer services, launched a new commercial on Monday blasting Democratic rival Polk County Elections Supervisor Lori Edwards for backing the Obama administration.

University of Florida officials complain about campus budget shortfalls, but UF grads apparently know business and finance. A Wall Street Journal survey of corporate recruiters ranks the school ninth in the nation for quality of bachelor's degree graduates. Ranked by field, UF rated No. 12 in finance and 23rd in business. The survey of 480 companies gave the top ratings to large public schools, led by Penn State, Texas A&M and the University of Illinois. No other Florida school made the top 25.

Defeated politicians never die; they dont even fade away. With Sen. Frederica Wilson, D-Miami Gardens, defeating a large field in the Democratic primary and facing an independent candidate for the congressional seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, it looks like some politicians will get a second chance to move up the ladder. Former Rep. Phillip Brutus, Rep. James Bush, D-Miami, and Rep.

Taking a page from current Attorney General Bill McCollum, who has made combating gangs in Florida one of the chief marks of his tenure, Republican AG candidate Pam Bondi focused on fighting gangs on Monday morning.

When did Scott Maxwell land on the Democratic Party payroll? The Orlando Sentinel columnist checked Marco Rubio's "baggage" and purportedly found it loaded with political time bombs just waiting to be detonated by Democratic spinmeisters.

Former Sen. Trent Lott, R-Miss. turned CNN commentator Candy Crowley's attention from skepticism on tea-party-supported candidates to excitement for them by praising Florida U.S. Senate nominee Marco Rubio. "Wait a minute here. Let's look at another candidate who has the tea party's support, Marco Rubio. I've been impressed with Marco Rubio for a long time," Lott said of the Miami Republican. "Now, here's a guy who was the speaker of the House in Florida. He already understands how to move policy along. He's not going to come in here cold ..."

Democratic Party operative Steve Schale clarified Florida party registration figures in our "Generic Ballot" story. Instead of a 44-43 Democratic-Republican split, Schale noted that it's actually 42-36, with 22 percent "other." Either breakdown "is still way too partisan for an Election Day model," Schale said in an e-mail. "On Election Day, the state will be something closer to 41-41-18," Schale predicted.

U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, the Republican nominee in the race to be Floridas next commissioner of agriculture and consumer services, met with the Future of Florida Agriculture Task Force on Friday and came away thinking his plans mirrored the organizations take on the future of farming in the Sunshine State.

Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach, the Democratic candidate for attorney general, received the endorsement of the Florida Police Benevolent Association (PBA) on Friday over Pam Bondi, his Republican rival. I am honored to have the endorsement of the Florida PBA, said Gelber. The brave men and women of our law enforcement community who work every day to keep our residents safe, will have --when I am elected attorney general --a partner who will work with them to ensure the safety and security of all Floridians.