Associated Press is reporting that another oil rig has exploded in the Gulf. The explosion took place on Thursday morning, west of the site of the Deepwater Horizon explosion at the end of April. The Coast Guard is reporting no fatalities. Stay tuned for more information.

Peter Allen, one of the founders of the Independence Party who is now running for governor on that partys line, has named John Zanni as his running mate for lieutenant governor. One of the founders of the party who currently serves as the chair in Hillsborough County, Zanni is from Brandon.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) is taking aim at Gov. Charlie Crist, who flipped out of the GOP to run for U.S. Senate without party affiliation. The NRSC sent out an e-mail to supporters Thursday, letting Republicans know the governor -- a Republican until former House Speaker Marco Rubio caught up and passed him in polls for the GOP primary -- is open to giving back campaign money.

Former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the Republican candidate in the U.S. Senate election, offered high praise to GOP gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott for picking Rep. Jennifer Carroll, R-Jacksonville, as his running mate on Thursday.

On Thursday, Bud Chiles pulled the plug on his gubernatorial campaign, endorsing Democratic candidate state CFO Alex Sink. Chiles, the son of Florida political legend Lawton Chiles who served as both a U.S. senator for three terms and governor for two terms, ran without party affiliation instead of remaining a Democrat like his father.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scotts selection of Rep. Jennifer Carroll, R-Jacksonville, is earning him praise from at least one social conservative leader who was behind Attorney General Bill McCollum in the GOP primary.

Rick Scott, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, named Rep. Jennifer Carroll, R-Jacksonville, as his running mate on Thursday, announcing in Jacksonville that he wanted the former Navy officer as his lieutenant governor.

Gain one 2008 presidential candidate, lose one -- and throw in a second round draft-pick.

Larry Sabato of the University of Virginia, one of the most respected political pundits in the nation, released his latest take on the November elections and is predicting a big gain for Republicans at the national level.

Economist Farid Khavari, who is running for governor without party affiliation, is a heavy underdog in the race -- and that has not changed with his selection of Darcy Richardson to serve as his running mate for lieutenant governor. Still, the Richardson pick could help Khavari. Richardson, who lives in Jacksonville,is a familiar name to many political activists and junkies in the state. Besides serving as the campaign manager for former U.S. Sen.

College football in Florida kicks off tonight when the University of Miami Hurricanes host Florida A&M. Odds that the Rattlers will beat the Hurricanes are about the same as Democrats taking over the Florida Legislature. The "U" has trounced FAMU in their last seven games, most recently administering a 48-16 thrashing last year. FAMU's only win over Miami came in their first meeting back in 1979 in Tally.

The Republican bid to retake Central Florida's 8th Congressional District took a step forward this week when GOP nominee Daniel Webster landed endorsements from his six primary election rivals. All six candidates -- Kurt Kelly, Todd Long, Patricia Sullivan, Bruce O'Donoghue, Dan Fanelli and Ross Bieling -- praised Webster and urged voters to oust first-term Rep. Alan Grayson, D-Orlando.

Reactions to the news that Bud Chiles, who is running without party affiliation, would drop out of the gubernatorial race on Thursday and endorse state CFO Alex Sink, the Democratic nominee, broke along party lines.

As speculation builds over Rick Scott's choice for running mate, Florida newspaper blogs are warming to Rep. Jennifer Carroll's chances. Scott is scheduled to announce his choice for lieutenant governor Thursday, and his campaign would not confirm the speculation about Carroll. Carroll's office had no comment this afternoon. Nor was there confirmation of reports that former Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings had turned down the job.

WJXT is reporting that Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott will announce Rep. Jennifer Carroll, R-Jacksonville, as his running mate on Thursday. Carroll, the first African-American woman to serve as a Republican in the Legislature, is part of the House leadership and will help Scott reach out to establishment Republicans who backed Attorney General Bill McCollum in the primary.