Rep. Greg Evers, R-Baker, just won a big endorsement in his bid to win a seat in the Senate -- the backing of the man who currently holds the job, Sen. Durell Peaden, R-Crestview, who cannot run again due to term limits.

While the Democratic establishment has remained wary of Jeff Greenes bid for the U.S. Senate, officeholders and former occupants of political office are slowly coming around to back the billionaire investors bid.

Earlier in the month, Rep. Joe Abruzzo, D-Wellington, announced he was backing Greene. On Monday, former Wilton Manors Mayor Jim Stork, who ran for Congress in 2004 before pulling out due to health concerns, endorsed Greene. Stork has publicly come out of the closet and has worked on various gay rights issues and initiatives.

BP has promised $500,000 to protect Destin Pass and Okaloosa County waters from the tide of oil. The oil giant is giving Okaloosa County $200,000 for an underwater "air curtain" that uses air bubbles to separate oil from water and $300,000 for as many as nine barges to fortify the Destin Pass. The barge operation will initially include three boats that could be used to funnel the oil away from the area, but the fleet can be expanded.

Attorney General Bill McCollums gubernatorial bid got the backing of his old boss on Monday when former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich announced his endorsement of McCollum over Rick Scott for the Republican nomination. Gingrich and McCollum served in the U.S. House together for almost two decades.

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Marco Rubio commented Friday afternoon on the possibility that lost wage claims from the oil spill could be taxed.

The Florida Medical Association (FMA) backed a proposed constitutional amendment allowing Floridians to opt out of new federal health-care laws backed by President Barack Obama. The FMA joins the Yes on 9 campaign -- backing the amendment originally sponsored by Sen. Carey Baker, R-Eustace, and Rep. Scott Plakon, R-Longwood.

Democrats in the U.S. Senate failed to break a threatened Republican filibuster on extending unemployment benefits on Thursday. Needing 60 votes to break the filibuster, Democrats were able to round up 57 votes with 41 votes against. Two members of the Senate did not vote.

The vote followed party lines and Floridas two senators followed suit -- with Democrat Bill Nelson backing the extension and Republican George LeMieux opposing it.

CNNMoney had an article this week listing Americas most recession-proof cities. The article quoted a list from MetroMonitor -- sent out by the Brookings Institute's Metropolitan Policy Program -- of 21 cities which were still thriving in the rough economy. Not one of them is in Florida.

Moments after rival Jeff Greene blasted Republicans in the U.S. Senate for blocking extending unemployment benefits, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, also a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate, followed suit -- and took a shot at Greene.

Billionaire investor Jeff Greene, running for the Democratic nomination for the U.S. Senate, took a break from attacking U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, his chief rival in the primary, to blast Republicans in Washington for blocking a vote on extending federal unemployment benefits.