Over the last eight years, most Democratic politicians have made a distinction between The Good War (Afghanistan) and The Bad War (Iraq). That very much includes Barack Obama.

With only a month until the primary election, the two leading candidates for the Democratic nomination in the U.S. Senate election are getting nasty, increasing the barrage of attacks against one another -- while polls show that Gov. Charlie Crist may be getting more Democratic support than either billionaire financier Jeff Greene or U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, and national pundits speculate whether Crist will join Democrats in the Senate if elected.

While he is not running in 2010, U.S. Sen. George LeMieux is already the subject of whispers that he will run against U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012 -- and history may not be against him as much as it is other politicians appointed to the Senate and looking to win elections.

While Florida gets ready for a special session of the Legislature that convenes Tuesday to ponder the future of oil drilling in state waters, the U.S. Coast Guard increasingly is playing a prominent role in combating the effects of the Gulf oil spill.

Congress will be a bit busier this week after the new senator from West Virginia is sworn in as the 100th senator, filling the vacancy caused by the death of Democratic Sen. Robert C. Byrd.

Both Democratic candidates for attorney general, Sens. Dave Aronberg of Greenacres and Dan Gelber of Miami Beach, say they don't think the federal government is doing enough on immigration. Still, they both say they support the Obama administration's lawsuit against Arizona for its recently passed immigration law.

LEMIEUX LOSES MOST-JUNIOR STATUS
West Virginia Gov. Joe Manchins appointment Friday of Carte Goodwin, his former general counsel, to fill the U.S. Senate vacancy left by the death of Sen. Robert Byrd, pushes Florida Sen. George LeMieux off the perch as the chambers youngest member. Goodwin is 36; LeMieux, 41.

With candidates for federal office filing their second-quarter fund-raising numbers this week, and less than six weeks until primaries, the battle in Florida for congressional seats is taking clearer shape.

With U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart running in another district, this seat is vacant -- and has drawn major candidates from both parties.

Having raised more than $1.7 million for her bid for another term, Democratic U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas has more than $1.2 million on hand. Almost $765,000 of her funds come from PACs.