With the Republican presidential candidates preparing to square off on Monday night in a debate in Tampa sponsored by CNN and the Tea Party Express, a new national poll found that Gov. Rick Perry continues to lead the race.

On Friday, the Republican Party of Florida (RPOF) announced that Gov. Rick Perry of Texas will take part in the Presidency 5 straw poll later in the month.

Our 3,500 delegates, on behalf of Floridas Republicans, will hear from the leading candidates and make their votes count on Saturday, said Brian Hughes, a spokesman for the RPOF, on Friday. You cant win the White House if you cant win Florida, and this event is the first real test for these national campaigns here in the Sunshine State.

Florida Republican U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis celebrated two victories this week as the House Veterans Affairs Committee, for which the Sunshine State congressman serves asvice chairman, passed two bills he introduced.

Bilirakis HR 1826 would impose criminal penalties on individuals who charge veterans unauthorized fees on VA claims -- closing a hole at the federal level.

Flagler County has been hit hard in the economic downturn and has continually been ranked throughout 2011 with one of the largest unemployment rates in the states. There was some good news for the county this week when Florida Republican U.S. Rep. John Mica, chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, announced that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) was sending almost $600,000 in a grant to the Flagler County Airport in Palm Coast.

Congressman Ron Paul of Texas added to his team in New Hampshire as two state representatives from Hillsborough -- Tammy Simmons and Mark Warden -- endorsed his bid for the Republican presidential nomination on Thursday.

While some of the leading Republican presidential hopefuls will be heading to Tampa to take part in a debate on Monday night, one of the dark horses will be stumping another part of the Sunshine State.

Former Gov. Buddy Roemer of Louisiana will be speaking at The Villages on Monday afternoon. While he has not garnered much attention, Roemer has worked hard in New Hampshire, pushing his message for economic and political reform. Roemer has refused to accept any contributions larger than $100 for his presidential bid.

On Aug. 13, the same day that U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota won the Iowa Republican straw poll in Ames, Texas Gov. Rick Perry announced that he was running for the GOPs presidential nomination. Perry has leaped over Bachmann in polls of Iowa since that time, so the Minnesota congresswoman is doubling down on the Hawkeye State.

Bachmann will be heading back to Ames on Saturday to catch a little college football as Iowa state hosts the University of Iowa. The congresswoman will be tailgating with Iowa state Sen. Jack Whitver and supporters before the game.

Former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, now fighting for the Republican presidential nomination, took aim at President Barack Obama on the economy in a new video released on Thursday. The ad goes through gloomy figures since Obama took office and includes a clip of the jobs speech the president offered on Thursday night. The ad closes with a simple message about the jobs plan: Mr. President, youre 960 days too late.

Supporters of Karen Harrington, the South Florida restaurant owner who challenged U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., as the Republican candidate in 2010, are launching a money bomb as their candidate aims for a rematch in 2012.

The Harrington team trashed Wasserman Schultz for not calling for civility while in her capacity as chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC), and not restraining allies in the Congressional Black Caucus and in organized labor for attacking the tea party. The Harrington camp hopes to raise $25,000 by the end of next week.

Florida will be marking the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 terrorist attacks with flags at half mast and a moment of silence.