While U.S. Sen. George LeMieux is leaving Washington in a few months, the Sunshine State Republican continues to make more of an impression in the Capitol than most appointed senators.

Opposed to Democrats adding the Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors act (DREAM act) to a defense appropriations bill and another attempt to change the militarys dont ask, dont tell on gays being allowed to serve, LeMieux came out swinging on Tuesday, arguing that the measure needed to be stripped of any provisions that had nothing to do with military matters.

Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who moved to Florida earlier in the year after making a spirited bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008, has been active in helping politicians in the Sunshine State -- and on Tuesday, he unleashed action-movie legend and longtime backer Chuck Norris to raise money for HuckPAC, his leadership group.

Norris was a vocal backer of Huckabees presidential campaign in 2008, and looks ready to help out if the former Arkansas governor makes another bid for the Republican nod in 2012.

The Florida Professional Firefighters, backed by the International Association of Firefighters and the AFL-CIO, endorsed Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach, the Democratic candidate for attorney general, over Republican nominee Pam Bondi.

With the terms of Nancy Argenzenio and Nathan Skop ending on the Public Service Commission, Gov. Charlie Crist announced his choices to replace them -- West Palm Beach Assistant City Administrator Eduardo Balbis and Tampa-based attorney and Realtor Julie Brown.

An environmental engineer by training, Balbis also served on the Treasure Coast Regional Planning Council -- experience that Crist said would help him on the PSC.

On a busy Tuesday, with television ads being released across Florida, Rick Scotts campaign team released a new commercial looking to humanize the Republican gubernatorial candidate. Esther Scott, the candidates mother, attempted to offer a bit of insight into her son -- and (shades of Jeff Greene?) even portray his successful career in business as a rags to riches Horatio Alger story.

The Rick Scott for Governor campaign launched a creative new adshowing Alex Sink backing higher taxes in almost every aspect of Floridians' lives. But Sink, while only briefly attacking Scott for not understanding the issues, focuses most of her ad on her platform policies.

In an ad launched Monday Congressman Ron Klein paints his opponent Allen West as a right-wing extremist.

West's new ad criticizes the incumbent for failed policies and extreme support of Nancy Pelosi and union bosses. The two are fighting to represent Florida's 22nd Congressional District, which stretches from Fort Lauderdale to Jupiter.

A month after losing to Rick Scott in the Republican gubernatorial primary, Attorney General Bill McCollum released a letter late on Monday that he sent to Ken Feinberg, the Beltway attorney handling the BP Deepwater Horizon Disaster Victim Compensation Fund.

McCollum reviewed a meeting that he held with Feinberg on Wednesday and offered his take on what had occurred -- and the attorney generals attempts to ensure a more prompt and responsive claims process.

On Tuesday morning, Republican congressional candidate Karen Harrington, who is challenging Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, continued her campaign of blistering attacks on the incumbents position on the economy.

Taking umbrage at Wasserman Schultz blaming the economic problems on former President George W. Bush, Harrington insisted that the Democrats, who have controlled Congress since the 2006 general elections, are to blame for the recession and Floridas high unemployment rate.

Former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the Republican candidate in the U.S. Senate race, unveiled a new television commercial in which he takes subtle shots at Gov. Charlie Crist, who is in the race without party affiliation and looking to tap into voter discontent at Washington.

Washington isnt just broke, its broken, says Rubio in the commercial, before taking Crist to task. Rubio has torn into Crist for standing on both sides of certain issues. But it wont get better if we keep electing politicians who will say or do anything just to hold office.