A poll from Public Policy Polling, a firm with connections to prominent Democrats, found that President Barack Obama would have a fight to keep Florida in his column in 2012 as two Republican candidates -- former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts and U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas -- were right on his heels in the Sunshine State.

Florida's courts have asked Gov. Rick Scott for an emergency cash infusion of $45.6 million to help offset a budget shortfall.

The courts are facing a budget hole of $108 million due to a continued drop-off in filing fees stemming from the slowdown in mortgage foreclosures.

In a letter sent to Scott on Wednesday, Supreme Court Chief Justice Charles Canady asked the governor for a temporary transfer of $45.6 million from general revenue into a trust fund designed to pay for courts.

With the third quarter of 2011 ending on Friday, the four leading Republican candidates looking to challenge Democratic incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012 scrambled this week to raise funds, hoping for an impressive showing that will help propel them ahead of the pack.

In a win for unions, the Florida Supreme Court this week refused to take up a case that will force the city of Gainesville to collectively bargain changes in retiree health-insurance benefits.

The city, which sought to overturn a 1st District Court of Appeal ruling, argued in court documents that the case could have broad implications for government agencies that want to rein in benefit costs.

Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels did not attract as large a crowd when he spoke at the American Enterprise Institute (where I am a resident fellow) earlier this week as he didseveral months ago, before he disappointed admirers by announcing that he wouldn't run for president.