Gov. Rick Scotts proposed budget, which was unveiled in Tallahassee on Wednesday, drew the applause Thursday of Ed Moore, the president and CEO of the Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida. Moore, who leads the group of 29 private higher-education institutions, praised Scott for continuing to support the Florida Resident Access Grants.

A poll released by Quinnipiac University on Thursday morning found former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich holds a solid lead over his rivals for the Republican presidential nomination in Florida.

A national poll from Farleigh Dickenson University released on Wednesday found that former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich continues to maintain a large lead in the race for the Republican presidential nomination.

Republican presidential hopeful Gov. Rick Perry of Texas continued to play up his personal faith and promised to fight for a large role for religion in the public square in a new ad his team unveiled on Wednesday.

John Avlon over at the Daily Beast offers a list of 10 politicians whose endorsements could shape the Republican presidential primary contest. With Florida looming large on the primary calendar on Jan. 31, its no surprise to see that former Gov. Jeb Bush and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio are on the list.

On Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott issued a statement commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor. The 70th anniversary of the attacks is Wednesday.

On Tuesday, Gallup started running its daily tracking national polls in the race for the Republican presidential nomination. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich leads the pack with 37 percent followed by former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts in second with 22 percent.

Republican presidential hopeful Texas Gov. Rick Perry slammed President Barack Obama on Tuesday after reports emerged that the administration intended to advance gay rights through foreign policy.

Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich is leading the pack of Republican presidential candidates in South Carolina, which will hold its primary after Iowa and New Hampshire have their say. Gingrich leads a Winthrop University poll of likely Republican primary voters, unveiled on Tuesday, with 38 percent. Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts places second with 22 percent.

Making his second bid for the Republican nomination and his third attempt at the White House, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas is hitting the airwaves in Iowa and New Hampshire. A new ad from the Paul team stresses the maverick Texas congressmans positions against federal spending -- and plays up his plan to eliminate five federal departments. Paul is battling former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts for second place behind former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich in most Iowa polls.