When Republicans in Iowa and New Hampshire disagree over who the Republican presidential nominee should be, the race turns to South Carolina, which has broken the tie -- and that could be good news for Gov. Rick Perry of Texas who leads in two polls in the Palmetto State.

Since kicking off his presidential bid earlier in the month, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas has soared to the top of the polls, pushing aside former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts who had been the frontrunner in the race. On Tuesday Perry turned his focus toward the Sunshine State as he earned the endorsement of one of the most influential Republicans in Tallahassee -- incoming Senate President Don Gaetz, R-Niceville.

Adam Hasner, now part of a crowded field of Republican candidates looking to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, announced Tuesday that he had the support of former Florida House Speaker Larry Cretul. Cretul, who served as speaker while Hasner was majority leader, will be a co-chairman of the Hasner campaign.

Cretul and Hasner were both first elected to the House in 2002 and they served until term limits forced them out in 2010. Cretul, who served as speaker from 2009 until 2010, praised his former House colleague Tuesday.

Sometimes to know where you are, and maybe where you might be headed, it is good to look back at where you have been.

Many in the media are saying how unusual it is for our economy to be so sluggish for so long, after we have officially emerged from a recession. In a sense, they are right. But, in another sense, they are profoundly wrong.