Asked Sunday morning which GOP candidate he backs for the presidential nomination, Florida Gov. Rick Scott -- though inspecific -- said Mitt Romney has the winning credentials.

"We need jobs," Scott told Candy Crowley during an interview on CNN's State of the Union, "that's the message that every candidate in the campaign should be shouting out every day. They're not, but that's what people want to hear, and Romney does have real business experience.

"Job-creating business experience," the governor reiterated.

Sunshine State News is honored to serve as a media sponsor for the League of Women Voters of Florida's 2012 Old Capitol Gala -- "The Future of Florida: Young Electeds to Watch" -- 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Feb. 22, at the Florida Historic Capitol Museum in Tallahassee.

Jessica Lowe-Minor, executive director of the League, said the occasion is an opportunity to honor Florida's new class of elected leaders. "We're looking forward to introducing these bright, young leaders to a statewide audience," said Lowe-Minor.

Tickets to the gala are $75 per person.

Results for South Carolina Republican Primary (U.S. Presidential Primary)

Jan 21, 2012 (100% of precincts reporting)

Newt Gingrich 243,153 40.4%
Mitt Romney 167,279 27.8%
Rick Santorum 102,055 17%
Ron Paul 77,993 13%
Rick Perry 2,494 0.4%
Other 8,192 1.4%

As reported by AP

"Bachmann for President" Communications Director Alice Stewart issued the following response to an endorsement-related statement distributed to South Carolina voters yesterday:

"The 'Bachmann for President' campaign has not issued an official statement regarding an endorsement of any current candidate in the GOP race ahead of the South Carolina primary. Any information found to the contrary is inaccurate."

The American Conservative Union announced Thursday that Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal will be a featured speaker at CPAC 2012 the 39th annual Conservative Political Action Conference.

Americas largest gathering of conservative leaders and activists will be Thursday, Feb. 9, to Saturday, Feb. 11, in Washington, D.C. The newly re-elected Jindal had his second-term inauguration this week, following a landslide victory last fall where he swept nearly 70 percent of the Pelican State vote. This will be his first appearance at CPAC.

Below, from Data.com, is a list of the wealthiest 30 counties by average income in the country. Twenty-two of the 30 voted Democrat in the last presidential election.

Debunks the Republicans being the party of the rich, don't you think?

New York, N.Y. $120,790 DEMOCRAT.
Loving, Texas $99,593.
Pitkin, Colo. $93,465 DEMOCRAT.

A striking first for Florida? In this list of the top five fundraisers at the start of 2012, the top two are women.

Who are the top five fundraisers in the Florida House of Representatives for the 2012 election? As of the start of the year, here they are:

1 Will Weatherford (R) HD61 $397,150

2 Dana Young (R) HD57 $248,324

3 Chris Dorworth (R) HD34 $220,095

4 Matt Hudson (R) HD101 $192,613

5 Daniel Davis (R) HD13 $189,133

The House Ethics Committee has voted not to conduct a full-scale investigation into allegations that Rep. Alcee Hastings sexually harassed a former aide and retaliated against her when she complained about his actions, but a federal civil lawsuit over the case is still pending.

According to Politico.com, Jo Bonner, R-Ala., and Linda Sanchez, D-Calif., the chairman and ranking member of the Ethics Committee, issued a statement Wednesday, saying they will continue to review the Hastings case, although there will be no formal probe of the Florida Democrat at this time.

Our condolences to Occupy West Palm Beach.

Perhaps the smallest and soggiest arm of the national Occupy Wall Street movement got unceremoniously bounced from its home on a patch of government land in downtown West Palm Beach. And why? Because a different kind of circus -- a school for trapeze artists called The Trapeze Experience -- wanted its comfy green digs to entertain and train city folks.