With Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott criticizing Attorney General Bill McCollum, his chief rival for the GOP nomination, for his handling of the case against disgraced former RPOF chairman Jim Greer, Republican leaders from across the state are blasting Scott. Eighteen Republican leaders -- mostly state committeemen -- sent the Scott campaign a letter today demanding Scott retract his statements.

The public may loathe Ponzi King Scott Rothstein, but folks clamored for his goods at auction today. Hundreds of bidders turned out for a chance to acquire Rothstein's luxury cars and boats. Two hours later, the fleet was sold off for $5.8 million. Among the priciest baubles:

In January 2007, just after winning the election for the Republican Party of Florida chairman, Jim Greer signed the RPOF oath, in which the final provision reads: "And finally, I pledge to work on behalf of the RPOF in total good faith.

Karen Thurman, chairwoman of the Florida Democratic Party, continues to hammer the Republicans on the arrest of disgraced former RPOF Chairman Jim Greer. Thurman sent off a letter to William Shepherd, the prosecutor in the state attorney generals office going after Greer, demanding someone else take up the case.

After spending the better part of the day in jail, former state Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer was released on bail Wednesday evening. Greer, who was arrested at his Oveido home early Wednesday morning and charged with six felony counts of fraud, theft and money laundering in connection with his financial dealings at the state GOP, bonded out of the Polk Correctional Facility in Seminole County around 5:40 p.m.

Finally some progress a mile down. BP this morning successfully sliced the pipe gushing oil. Its a ragged cut, the important next step isnt exactly a piece of cake, but the cap is poised just above the gusher at this moment. Adm. Thad Allen told reporters in Metarie, La. that BP is two hours away from lowering it into place. Fingers crossed. Well let you know how it goes as soon as we do.

Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp has put in a lot of time defending NASA in Florida, even challenging President Obama to a debate on the matter, and it is paying dividends for his campaign for the Republican attorney general nomination. Kottkamp announced his Brevard County campaign team which includes U.S. Rep. Bill Posey, Brevard County Sheriff Jack Parker, Sen. Thad Altman, R-Melbourne, four state representatives, two Brevard County commissioners and a Palm Bay council member.

Floridas newest gubernatorial candidate has a website up and running. Invoking the legacy of his late father, Bud Chiles has set up "Walk with Bud" for his independent run at the governors mansion. Check out the logo for the campaign -- a sun looking like an O over curvy blue lines. Looks like the Obama 2008 logo -- as reporters pointed out to the new candidate.

Bud Chiles, son of Florida political legend Lawton Chiles, just announced that he will run for governor as an independent. A longtime Democrat, Chiles denounced political corruption and pledged to restore the states education system and protect the environment. Im running for governor to speak for a million Floridians who are out of work right now, said Chiles. Im running to help nearly a million children who have no health care -- and for the millions of people who, like me, believe Florida can and must do better by its families and communities.

While Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman is attempting to link the arrest of former RPOF Chairman Jim Greer to former House Speaker and current GOP U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio, the Rubio camp is not ducking the Greer controversy. The Rubio campaign even released a video tying independent Senate candidate Gov. Charlie Crist to the disgraced former RPOF chairman, saying Crist handpicked Greer. The Rubio camp blasted Crist in their statement on the new video.

The Florida Medical Association is urging the state's congressional delegation to take "decisive action" on Medicare now, or face the consequences later. Floridas elected officials in Washington, D.C. represent the state with more Medicare beneficiaries than any other state in the nation, said Dr. James B. Dolan. They face a simple choice: either keep their promise and pay for seniors health care and doctors bills, or transform the Medicare system into one that is economically sustainable. So far, theyve picked none of the above.'"

State CFO Alex Sink, the leading Democratic candidate in the race for governor, is calling on BP officials to come to Florida to witness the results of the oil spill in the Gulf. Tony Hayward, his company British Petroleum, and his oil are projected to violate the pristine beaches and crystal clear ocean water of northwest Florida -- and I expect him to be in Pensacola to see firsthand the damage his oil is causing, said Sink. Sink pulled no punches in calling for BP to use all of its resources to remedy the damage.

It did not take long for the Florida Democratic Party to weigh in on the arrest of former RPOF Chairman Jim Greer. State Democratic Chairwoman Karen Thurman is using Greers arrest to rally Florida voters to defeat his old allies running for office in 2010.