The National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) backed state CFO Jeff Atwater for a second term over Democratic opponent William Rankin.

"CFO Atwater is committed to supporting small-business priorities and ensuring that Florida maintains its pro-small-business climate, said Bill Herrle, the NFIBs Florida chapters executive director, on Monday.

Former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., announced on Friday that he was backing U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., for a third term in Congress. Bush is a possible candidate for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.

U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Fla., launched a new TV ad on Friday which will be hitting airwaves around Tampa Bay this weekend. In the ad, Buchanan stresses his background and commitment to job creation and expanding opportunities; he also slams the dysfunction in Washington.

The Vote No on 2 Campaign unveiled a new TV ad on Friday to criticize Amendment 2, which would expand medical marijuana use in the Sunshine State.

The ad features Dr. Madelyn Butler, past president of the Florida Medical Association, who attacks the amendment, insisting it has too many loopholes and does not require medical approval to distribute marijuana.

On Thursday, Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Adrian Wyllie played up his commitment to Amendment 2, a proposal Floridians will vote on in November to expand medical marijuana. In a video his campaign released on Thursday, Wyllie also noted that he supports marijuana legalization in general.

I support Amendment 2, Wyllie says in the video. I don't believe that anyone, especially not government, should interfere with the decisions that you and your doctor make about your health-care treatment.

Noting that the Audit the Fed" bill overwhelmingly passed the U.S. House, former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, called on U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to let the Senate vote on the bill. Paul, who ran for president three times, was the chief backer of Audit the Fed during his years in Congress. The Senate version is currently being championed by his son, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky.

Former Gov. Jeb Bush, R-Fla., continued his political activities on Thursday as buzz continues to build that he could run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016. Bush sent out a fundraising email for Westchester County Executive Rob Astorino, the Republican and Conservative Party of New York State (CPNYS) candidate looking to upset Gov. Andrew Cuomo, D-N.Y., in November.

Bush played up Floridas economic strengths and contrasted them with the Empire State.

Roll Call released its latest list of the most vulnerable congressmen and U.S. Rep. Steve Southerland, R-Fla., who is facing a major challenge from Democrat Gwen Graham, made the top 10.

Roll Call ranks the lists as tilts Republican" in its look at the race:

Former President George W. Bush appeared on Fox News on Thursday morning and said he is encouraging his brother, former Gov. Jeb Bush, to run for the Republican presidential nomination in 2016.

The former president said he does think his brother has made up his mind on whether to run but added the former Florida governor understands the responsibilities of sitting in the White House.

I think he wants to be president, George Bush said. I think [Jeb would] be a great president. He understands what its like to be president.

With U.S. VA Secretary Robert McDonald touring Florida on Wednesday, U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., met with him and had kind words for the new VA secretary. McDonald took over the VA when Eric Shinseki resigned after reports of altered waiting lists at VA medical facilities across the nation.