WASHINGTON -- Let me be blunt: If Republicans nominate Rick Santorum, they will lose.

Two Democrats with similar politics but differing styles are vying for their party's nomination in the South Florida congressional district being vacated by Republican Rep. Allen West.

As redrawn, CD 22 has turned bluer and West opted this month to head north to the new 18th Congressional District on the Treasure Coast.

With his battle with Congressman Connie Mack for the Republican nomination to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson intensifying, former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux continued to hammer his GOP rival and looked to play a little political judo over former Gov. Charlie Crist.

With Arizona and Michigan holding presidential primaries on Tuesday, former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts is in solid shape to win both states according to polls unveiled on Friday -- leading chief primary rival former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania to turn up the heat.

Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner declared victory in the tumultuous race for the Senate presidency in 2014, even as one of his main rivals insisted it is far too early to call anything.

"There's been a lot of speculation, and I am confirming that I have secured enough signatures of the sitting members and the returning members for the Senate presidency in '14," said Gardiner, R-Orlando, after a Senate session that stretched late into Thursday evening.

Gardiner, who has long been the front-runner for the position, proclaimed himself "humbled" by the results.

Sen. J.D. Alexander, R-Lake Wales, moved closer Thursday to creating an educational legacy for himself in Central Florida.

But even after success in the Senate, he still has far to go.

He will first have to convince his House counterparts to create a 12th public university in the state by making the University of South Florida-Polytechnic an independent campus after supporters of the proposal said they couldnt make long-range economic forecasts on its cost.

Amid an industry fight about new trauma centers in Clay, Pasco and Manatee counties, a House committee Thursday approved a bill that would eliminate limits on the number of trauma centers in the state.

The bill, HB 1419, would overhaul a process the Department of Health uses in reviewing proposed trauma centers and appears likely to make it easier to move forward with trauma projects.

"I'm not concerned about the very poor. We have a safety net there. If it needs a repair, I'll fix it."