With President Barack Obama addressing the nation at 8 p.m. about the end of combat operations in Iraq, Sunshine State News will be live-blogging the speech.

Former President George W. Bush announced the start of combat operations on March 19, 2003, and declared major combat operations over on May 1 of that year. Having lasted more than seven years, the Iraqi operations rank as one of the longest military activities in American history -- not quite as long as Vietnam or the Revolutionary War, but longer than the Second Seminole War and both of the World Wars put together.

The Florida Times Union is reporting that Adam Hollingsworth has taken a leave of absence from serving as Jacksonville Mayor John Peytons chief of staff to work with the Republican Party of Florida. It looks like he has the blessing of both the Republican establishment, including RPOF Chairman Sen. John Thrasher of Jacksonville, and the Rick Scott team. Hollingsworth worked in Jacksonville with Susie Wiles, who now is with the Scott team.

Quite a few Republicans have taken their names out of contention for being considered Rick Scotts running mate. Recent media reports have indicated that Rep. Anitere Flores, R-Miami, and former Jacksonville Mayor John Delaney said they were not interested.And who can blame them? As Jeff Kottkamps bid for the Republican attorney general nomination shows, the position is not exactly a launching pad for future political ambitions. Nor is it that well-established in Florida politics.

Democratic insider Steve Schale posted a blog this morning: Sorry, Charlie.

In it he outlines why the math just isn't adding up for Charlie Crist since Kendrick Meek's solid victory in the Democratic Primary.

If the feeling coming out of Tuesday morning's work group -- one of six on the Deepwater Horizon response -- is any indication, chances of a special session may be fading.

The six work groups organized by House Speaker Larry Cretul are submitting their final reports today.

They were tasked with studying different aspects of the oil issue, everything from disaster response and preparation to determining if current laws are strong enough -- then letting the speaker know if they think anything should be addressed immediately in a special session.

Though still two months away, midterm elections are shaping up quite favorably for Republicans nationally.

A Gallup poll of registered voters out this week marks the fifth week in a row where Republicans have held an advantage over Democrats on a generic ballot.

But this week, the GOP took a 10 point lead, the highest since Gallup started tracking the generic ballot in 1942.

From Gallup:

With U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz insisting on an appearance on Face the Nation on CBS on Sunday, labeling some Republicans candidates as the extreme right-wing fringe, the Republican facing her in November is calling her out on it.

Usnews.com's Jessica Rettig wrote an article Monday detailing the chances of Democrats and Republicans in the upcoming general election.

Among the more interesting portions is a quote from the director of Public Policy Polling, Tom Jensen: "Crist or Rubio would have to self-destruct for Meek to have a chance at winning."

Of course, that still leaves Gov. Charlie Crist, who "may be the Democrats' best bet on the November ballot."

Former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the Republican nominee in the U.S. Senate election, continues to hammer Gov. Charlie Crist, who is running without party affiliation, for constantly shifting his position on new federal health-care laws backed by President Barack Obama. After Crist appeared on CNNs State of the Union Sunday morning and talked about the laws, the Rubio camp quickly fired off a release, claiming this was the seventh time Crist had changed his position on the measures.

Former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the Republican nominee in Novembers U.S. Senate election, tackled agriculture issues on Friday, maintaining that Washington was a roadblock to profitable farming.