Former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack, whose son and namesake is currently running for the seat that he held for 12 years, is backing former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts for the Republican presidential nomination.

The Romney camp unveiled the endorsement of the elder Mack on Thursday. The team behind Rep. Connie Mack, who endorsed Romney earlier in the year, announced that he would run for the seat his father held from 1989 until 2001.

With two months to go until the Iowa caucus, one of the leading candidates for the Republican presidential nomination -- U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas -- turns his eyes to the Hawkeye State this week.

Paul, who placed a strong second in the Iowa Republican straw poll in Ames in August, will hit Iowa on Friday as he continues his second bid for the GOP nomination. The Texas congressman will be making media appearances and campaigning in Des Moines. He will speak at the Republican Party of Iowa Reagan Dinner on Friday night.

Rasmussen Reports released a poll on Thursday finding that President Barack Obama and Republican presidential hopeful former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts are in a dead head in a possible general election match-up.

Obama receives 42 percent while Romney is right behind him with 41 percent.

The survey of 1,000 likely voters was taken from Nov. 1-2 and has a margin of error of +/- 3 percent.

Florida state Rep. Gary Aubuchon, R-Cape Coral, announced on Thursday that he would run for the congressional seat that Republican U.S. Rep. Connie Mack will be leaving to run against Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.

On Thursday, former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, running in the crowded Republican primary field to take on Democrat U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, announced that he had garnered the endorsements of state Sen. Garrett Richter, R-Naples, and two state representatives -- Rob Schenck, R-Spring Hill, and Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland.

On Wednesday, Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan ripped into the Federal Housing Finance Agencys decisions to give almost $13 million in bonuses to 10 executives at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

"As someone who has been in business for 30 years, I can tell you that you don't pay bonuses to people who have failed to do their job," said Buchanan. "In this instance their failure cost the taxpayers millions and led to a massive government bailout. They have failed us. They have failed the American people."

Sunshine State News is hitting the radio airwaves on Wednesday at 3 p.m. I will be on the Ed Dean radio show, which is hosted by one of the most feisty, informative and entertaining conservatives in Florida. It can be heard online here and on two stations in South Florida -- 89.3 on the west coast and 90.3 on the Atlantic coast.

A Suffolk University/7NEWS (WSVN-Miami) poll of registered voters in Florida released late Tuesday found President Barack Obama is in trouble in the Sunshine State.In a speech to the Florida Democratic Convention at Walt Disney World on Friday, Vice President Joe Biden said winning Florida is crucial to the president staying in the White House.

Former Gov. Buddy Roemer of Louisiana issued a statement late Tuesday about the fact he will not be on the Florida Republican presidential primary ballot.

Supporters of expanded gambling and casino operations in Florida can expect a fight in 2012. That was the message from leaders of faith-based groups who held a media event in Tallahassee on Tuesday to announce their opposition to a bill backed by Sen. Ellyn Bogdnoff, R-Fort Lauderdale, and Rep. Erik Fresen, R-Miami, that would open the door to large casinos being set up in the Sunshine State.

Conservative leader John Stemberger from Florida Family Action drew a line in the sand and promised to fight any attempts to expand gambling in the Sunshine State.