Richard Winger, one of the nations leading experts on third-party and independent candidates, is reporting at Ballot Access News that John Wayne Smith, the Libertarian candidate for governor, will not be on the ballot come November. The secretary of state removed Smith due to incomplete paperwork. Smith was to have been the first gubernatorial candidate running on the Libertarian line in Floridas history.

U.S Rep. Kendrick Meek, the Democratic candidate in the U..S Senate race, was supposed to debate former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the Republican candidate, on Sunday mornings Meet the Press on NBC. Rubio pulled out last week due to his ailing father, who has since passed away.

Rep. Sandy Adams, R-Oviedo, who is challenging incumbent U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas in November, offered her take on the news released on Friday that unemployment grew across the nation in August.

"Now is the time that we return America back to the people," said Adams late on Friday."Our country cannot afford new taxes and continued out-of-control spending.The government should get out of the way of business by reducing taxes and regulations on small businesses, the main economic driver of job growth in America."

Both of the major candidates for governor threw jabs at each other on Friday. Responding to a statement from Republican candidate Rick Scott blaming the Obama administration for rising unemployment across the nation, state CFO Alex Sink, the Democratic nominee in the race, said that if Scott is so concerned with national issues, he should run for federal office.

This prompted a sharp response from Scotts team.

The campaign team of former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the Republican candidate in the U.S. Senate race, announced that its candidate will not be attending a debate scheduled for Sunday on Meet the Press with U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, the Democratic nominee in the race, due to his fathers poor health. Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running without party affiliation, chose to skip the event.

Rick Scott is not the only Florida Republican taking aim at the White House for the nations continuing unemployment problems. U.S. Rep. Connie Mack blasted the policies of the Obama administration on Friday morning, not long after new reports indicated that unemployment continued to grow across the nation, rising to 9.6 percent in August, the highest it has been since May.

High unemployment, stagnant financial markets, and general economic insecurity are taking their toll on Democratic loyalty, particularly among the nation's youth.

A New York Times article Thursday says Democrats are losing ground where they once claimed a strong foothold -- with young adults.

From the Times:

Unemployment rose to 9.6 percent in August -- the highest it has been since May. Rick Scott, the Republican candidate for governor, weighed in on these numbers on Friday morning, taking aim at President Barack Obama and Democrats who have supported his economic policies, including state CFO Alex Sink, the Democratic nominee for governor.

Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running for the U.S. Senate without party affiliation, announced on Thursday that the state may be getting more funds for Florida schools through the U.S. Department of Education.

In speaking to Education Secretary Arne Duncan today, Florida is once again being recognized for continued leadership in education reform, said Crist. Along with 24 other states and the District of Columbia, Florida will receive up to $170 million in additional Race to the Top funds.