On Friday, former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, now running in a crowded Republican primary to take on Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, announced that he had won the backing of one of the most prominent social and religious conservative organizations in the country -- the Family Research Council (FRC) Action PAC.

A poll from Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with connections to prominent Democrats, found that President Barack Obama would have a fight to keep Florida in his column in 2012 as two Republican candidates -- former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas -- were right on his heels in the Sunshine State.

Former Gov. Jon Huntsman of Utah garnered the support of three Florida Republicans on Thursday -- state Sen. Rene Garcia of Hialeah, state Sen. Paula Dockery of Lakeland and Longwood Mayor Joe Durso.

America needs to strengthen our economic core, and it's leaders like Senator Garcia, Senator Dockery and Mayor Durso who are working hard every day to achieve that goal, said Huntsman who has based his campaign out of Orlando. Im honored and humbled to receive the endorsement of such accomplished public servants.

In Charlotte, N.C., on Thursday for a speech at the Charlotte Chamber of Commerce, Minnesota U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann -- trying to revive her faltering bid for the Republican presidential nomination -- came out swinging at the Dodd-Frank Act, the measure President Barack Obama signed to increase regulation of the financial industry.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts has been keeping most of his fire focused on Republican presidential rival Gov. Rick Perry of Texas. Earlier this week, the Romney camp changed direction and released a Web video attacking President Barack Obama for continuing massive federal spending.

With Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park, saying that Florida could hold its primary on Jan. 31, Republican presidential hopeful former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania issued a statement late on Wednesday urging that Iowa, New Hampshire and South Carolina should hold the first presidential primaries.

A Fox News poll released late Wednesday found that the Republican Party of Floridas (RPOF) P5 event in Orlando last week dramatically impacted the race for the GOP presidential nomination, as Texas Gov. Rick Perry faded after a poor debate performance and Herman Cain, who won the P5 straw poll, moved up.

Public Policy Polling (PPP), a firm with connections to prominent Democrats at the national level, released a poll on Wednesday that found that former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts was leading the Republican presidential pack in Florida.

Romney topped the poll with 30 percent while former Gov. Rick Perry of Texas placed second in the Sunshine State with 24 percent. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who represented Georgia in Congress, took third with 10 percent.

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw issued a statement on Wednesday regarding the death of his father-in-law, former Gov. Claude Kirk.

Claude Kirk was probably the most charismatic person I ever met, said Crenshaw. He could be hysterically funny and fearlessly bold, and he championed the environment, education, and diversity long before those issues were fashionable. He carried a bigger-than-life personality that often overshadowed his true genius and the lasting and positive changes he brought to the state of Florida. It is an honor to be his son-in-law.

A poll released on Wednesday found that former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts is leading the pack of Republican presidential candidates in Iowa, home of the first caucus. With 21 percent, Romney led the American Research Group poll of likely caucus voters. U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota, who won the Iowa Republican straw poll last month, placed second with 15 percent, followed by Texas Gov. Rick Perry with 14 percent. U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Iowa, who placed a strong second in the Iowa straw poll, came in fourth with 12 percent.