The stakes are high as Florida Republicans hit the polls on Tuesday to help determine which Republican hopeful will challenge Democrat incumbent President Barack Obama in November.

The first three states in the procession of caucuses and primaries offered split decisions on the candidates. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania scored a narrow upset win in the Iowa caucus over former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts, who went on to win the New Hampshire primary. Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich won the South Carolina primary.

Boundary lines across Florida shouldnt be a factor when a city or county considers construction contracts that involve state dollars, senators on the Community Affairs Committee said Monday.

Despite objections in support of "buy local" efforts by the Florida League of Cities, the committee voted to support SB 1460, which would prohibit local communities from giving local contractors preferential treatment when considering a project that would receive any amount of state money.

Restaurant executive Craig Miller announced Monday he is dropping out of the crowded Republican primary looking to take on Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November to run for Congress.

With the Florida Republican presidential primary looming Tuesday, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney has taken a large lead, according to a poll released early Monday from Quinnipiac University.

The poll of likely voters finds that Romney takes 43 percent followed by former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich with 29 percent. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul are tied for third with 11 percent each. Seven percent say they are undecided. Less than a quarter -- 24 percent -- say they could change their minds before they vote.

There are silly bills and then there are the bat-crazy, dangerous, shoot-it-before-it-reaches-the-border bills. SB 1560 fits nicely into the latter category.

The conservative group Americans for Prosperity is signing up Florida tea party leaders to serve as regional coordinators, and paying groups $2 per signature to recruit Election Day volunteers.

"It's an opportunity for tea parties to raise dollars for their organizations by helping AFP with an awareness and membership drive on Tuesday," said Slade O'Brien, AFP's Florida director.

But critics say it looks suspiciously like a conservative version of ACORN, buying foot soldiers for election work.

Sunshine State News brings a special Presidential Election 2012 offering: the GOP primary candidates at-a-glance.

Find out about Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum. ... What experience do they bring? What is their family composition? Where do they stand on the issues?

Click for a closer look ...

Florida lawmakers and online-travel company Expedia are battling in an appeals court about whether Rep. Rick Kriseman and a legislative aide can be forced to give depositions in a contentious tax lawsuit.

House attorneys last month asked the 1st District Court of Appeal to block a circuit judge's ruling that Expedia could subpoena Kriseman, D-St. Petersburg, and aide David Flintom and ask limited questions.

Florida became Ground Zero this week as Republican candidates flocked to the state and flooded the airwaves in preparation for what could be a pivotal presidential primary on Tuesday.

With political polls fluctuating, GOP hopefuls traded barbs over character, upbringing, and a host of other nonpolicy issues at local whistle stops, major gatherings of Hispanic leaders and in a pair of nationally televised debates.