Former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the heavy favorite for the Democratic presidential nomination, starts off the 2016 election cycle with the lead in the key swing state of Florida over two Republicans from the Sunshine State.

A poll released by Gravis Marketing on Friday shows Clinton cruising over U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., in a potential 2016 match-up. Clinton takes 44 percent of voters in that scenario while Rubio lags behind with 35 percent. More than a fifth of voters -- 21 percent -- remain undecided.

A new poll shows Amendment 2, a proposal to allow more medical marijuana use in Florida, is in good shape for the November elections.

The poll released Friday from Gravis Marketing finds 62 percent of those surveyed support Amendment 2 while 26 percent say they plan to vote against it and 10 percent remain undecided on how they feel about it. For Amendment 2 to pass in the general election, it needs 60 percent or more support from Florida voters.

The Florida gubernatorial contest is a jump ball according to a poll released by Gravis Marketing on Friday.

The poll finds both Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic challenger former Gov. Charlie Crist running even, taking 37 percent apiece. However, more than a quarter of those surveyed -- 26 percent -- remain undecided.

Most polls have shown the race tightening up as the double-digit lead Crist had last year has vanished.

Banker Jay Fant was declared the winner of the Republican primary to replace Rep. Daniel Davis, R-Jacksonville, in the Florida House on Friday. After the Duval County Elections Supervisor held a machine recount and examined ballots, Fant beat attorney and Navy veteran Paul Renner by 2 votes: 5,962 to 5,960.

With Labor Day being celebrated on Monday, Dominic Calabro, the president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch weighed in on Friday, noting an increase of private-sector jobs in the Sunshine State over the last year.

"Monday, Sept. 1st, Americans will celebrate Labor Day, a time to thank our nation's workers for their role in building economic growth and prosperity, Calabro said. This year, more working Floridians have reason to relax and celebrate the long weekend. From July 2013 to July 2014, Florida saw an increase of 208,500 private, nonfarm jobs.

On Friday, U.S. Rep. Greg Walden, R-Ore., the chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), sent out a fundraising email on Carlos Curbelos behalf, attempting to link Joe Garcia with U.S. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Walden warned Republicans that Democrats planned to support Garcia with their checkbooks and called for Republicans to open their wallets for Curbelo.

Former Florida Senate Minority Leader Nan Rich will be attending unity rallies across Florida on Thursday with former Gov. Charlie Crist who beat her in the Democratic gubernatorial primary on Tuesday. But Rich could not resist a final shot at Crist who refused to debate her during the primary campaign .

Last night I spoke with Charlie Crist to congratulate him, Rich posted on Facebook on Wednesday. It was a brief call, I didn't feel like debating him.

Rich offered more enthusiasm later on Wednesday in another Facebook post.

The Florida Association of State Troopers (FAST) endorsed Attorney General Pam Bondi for a second term on Thursday. Bondi, a Republican, faces Democratic nominee former DCF Secretary George Sheldon and Libertarian Bill Wohlsifer in November.

As a prosecutor in the 18th Judicial Circuit, Pam Bondi proved herself a strong advocate for justice, said Mike Kirby, FASTs chairman, on Thursday. That has carried over into her job as attorney general and she continues her commitment to the safety and well-being of Floridas citizens and visitors.

On Wednesday, Gov. Rick Scott named Lester Bass, a longtime figure in Jacksonville legal circles, to the Duval County Court, replacing Judge Russell Healey who was elevated to the circuit court.

Bass has been a general magistrate and hearing officer in the 4th Judicial Circuit for more than a decade and worked as an assistant public defender in Hillsborough County and an assistant state attorney in the 4th Judicial Circuit which covers parts of the First Coast.

With the kickoff of the college football season set for this weekend, including the national champion Florida State University Seminoles starting the season against Oklahoma State, a new study from Florida TaxWatch finds the seven Division I NCAA football teams in Florida help boost the Sunshine States economy.

"Florida taxpayers should be cheering on Florida football programs this year, because Florida team wins create value for the state," said Dominic Calabro, the president and CEO of Florida TaxWatch, on Thursday.