Six years, $100 million. Thats what Democrats are saying Mitt Romney has spent in the race so far for the presidency, as if somehow it's a bad thing.

One of Floridas smaller ports, one that has few commercial prospects currently lined up in anticipation of the expansion of the Panama Canal and gets little federal recognition, the Port of Fort Pierces future may now rest with an anticipated four-month study by the state Department of Transportation.

Elections are contests held during a moment in time between candidates who have records stretching back, often far back, into the past. So there is always a tension between the man (or woman) who is running and the moment.

U.S. Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the Republican presidential nominee who lost to Barack Obama in 2008 and two-time winner of the New Hampshire primary, announced on Wednesday he is backing former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts for president. McCain and Romney were rivals for the Republican presidential nomination back in 2008.

McCain -- along with his wife Cindy -- endorsed Romney at a campaign event in New Hampshire.

It is one of the most contentious but least understood issues now before Congress -- one that does not align neatly along party lines and has split the business community.

Redistricting, gambling and the budget will dominate the coming session, but a leading insurance industry group says pressing issues must also be addressed in auto, home and workers compensation coverage.

The Florida Insurance Council, during a media conference at the Florida Press Center in Tallahassee on Wednesday, outlined its support for a number of bills heading into the 60-day session that begins next week. The council's goals include:

Demonstrating their inside and outside games, a statewide tea party coalition and a host of "progressive" groups will converge on the Capitol on Tuesday as the Legislature begins its 2012 session.

Working the outside, Occupy Tallahassee has already set up a base at Gaines Street Commons. Purporting to represent the "99 percent," the group will be joined by like-minded activists from around the state.

To kick things off Tuesday, the left-wing coalition has reserved the Old Capitol Steps from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. for a daylong series of rallies and speeches.