After 10 Glorious Years, Sunshine State News and I Are Passing the Baton

On Wednesday, noted pundit Jonathan Alter, best known for his decades at Newsweek and now with Bloomberg View, posted the news on Twitter that there could be one more Republican presidential candidate entering the race soon -- Gov. Chris Christie of New Jersey. My sources say New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is conducting focus groups in preparation for a possible run for president in 2012, wrote Alter.

More than two decades after then-Mayor Tommy Hazouri of Jacksonville led the fight against them, tolls are returning to the First Coast.

The Florida Democratic Party revealed the keynote speaker at their state convention in October -- Vice President Joe Biden. "Vice President Bidens attendance sends a clear message about the importance of our state in this years presidential election, said party Chairman Rod Smith. Our states 29 electoral votes are crucial to ensuring this nation continues to move forward over the next four years. We are honored that he will attend and help us kick-off the 2012 election." The event will be held on Oct. 28 at Lake Buena Vista.

Competition for Southern Union Co. has reheated -- along with antitrust concerns -- as the owner of a Florida natural-gas pipeline this week affirmed its intent to buy the company. Southern Union, which operates a second pipeline serving the state, has been the target of a prolonged bidding war by Williams Cos. and Energy Transfer Equity. It looked like ETE would win out, since its $5.7 billion offer trumped Williams' $5.6 billion bid, and Southern Union's board appeared poised to accept the ETE package.