The Tampa Tribune is reporting that CFO Alex Sink, the leading Democratic gubernatorial candidate, is expected to name a running mate for lieutenant governor early in the process.

From his perch on the Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, the ranking Republican on the committee, continued to blast Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez and the Castro brothers today.

Sen. Dan Gelber, D-North Miami, filed his paperwork to run for attorney general this afternoon and is reminding Floridians about his political and legal background.

Both U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam and former Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox, who are both running for commissioner of agriculture and consumer services, claimed to have the backing of Bradford County Sheriff Gordon Smith. It turns out Smith was backing Maddox and is now backing Putnam.

Its been a busy morning at the Division of Elections in Tallahassee.

State CFO Alex Sink filed her paperwork to run for governor and the Democratic candidate spoke to the media and to cheering supporters. As the Sink team was setting up, former Leon County Democratic Party Chairman Rick Minor was walking out, having just filed his paperwork to take on Rep. Michelle Rehwinkel Vasilinda.

Not long after the Sink team left, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp filed his paperwork in a tight battle for the Republican attorney general nomination.

Looks like a national conservative organization is gearing up for political battles here in Florida.

Apryl Marie Fogel, the state director for Americans for Prosperity, send out an e-mail announcing the chapter kick-off rally which is being held in Orlando on Saturday and she is coming out swinging on certain issues.

The New York Times has just reported that BP has agreed to escrow $20 billion to pay claims over the next several years against its disastrous oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. According to the newspaper the claims program will be overseen by Kenneth Feinberg, a lawyer who ran the compensation fund for victims of the Sept. 11 terror attacks. President Obama met with oil executives in the White House on Wednesday.

CNNMoney.com has an interesting story up about the fastest growing counties in America over the last decade -- and a county in Florida places on the list.

The population of Flagler County, nestled in on the First Coast, along Interstate 95, grew 84 percent from 2000 to 2010. The county, with Jacksonville and St. Augustine to the north and Daytona Beach to the south, includes Palm Coast, Bunnell and Marineland.

Former Ruth's Chris CEO Craig Miller, running in a close Republican primary to take on U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, won a big endorsement from conservative former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon who represented Florida for over a decade.

"Craig Miller is a lot like me; he is not a career politician, but a conservative 'citizen lawmaker' like our nation's founders had in mind," said Weldon. "He can protect our Constitution from the liberals now in the majority who seem to be ignoring its precepts, if not subverting its intent.I know that he will stand up for families and the unborn.

Former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the leading Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate election in Florida, offered his take on President Barack Obamas speech to the nation last night. While critical of the president, Rubio is not blasting Obama the way that some Florida Republicans, such as U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, are.