Former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich hit the First Coast on Thursday to promote the candidacy of Mitt Romney, the man who beat him for the Republican presidential nomination.

Gingrich spoke to volunteers at the Republican headquarters in Jacksonville, encouraging them to continue to push for the former governor of Massachusetts and U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, the favorite to emerge in the August primary to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.

The money is flowing into the First Coast where Rep. Ronald Doc Renuart, R-Ponte Vedra, faces two challengers in the Republican primary as he seeks a third term in the Florida House.

First elected in 2008, Renuart, a physician who has risen to become vice chairman of the Health and Human Services Quality Subcommittee, currently represents parts of Duval and St. Johns counties, but he is currently running in House District 17 which contains much of the same area but stretches to the south.

The Florida Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday unveiled its endorsements in legislative races across the Sunshine State, backing candidates based on their positions on how to bring jobs to the state and improve a continuing sluggish economy.

A Rasmussen Reports poll released Wednesday finds U.S. Rep. Connie Mack -- the heavy favorite to win the Republican nomination -- with a solid lead over Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in Florida.

The poll of likely voters finds 46 percent backing Mack, while Nelson lags behind with 37 percent. While 10 percent are undecided, 7 percent say they support other candidates in the race. Other polls have shown a closer contest; however, a poll from conservative-leaning Rasmussen in April had the numbers reversed, with Nelson taking 47 percent and Mack trailing with 36 percent.

Expect Florida once again to be the political frontline in November as a new poll shows a tight contest between President Barack Obama and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney to take the 29 Electoral College votes in the Sunshine State.

A poll of likely Florida voters taken by Rasmussen Reports shows that Romney takes 46 percent of those surveyed while Obama is right on his heels with 45 percent. While 4 percent remain undecided, 5 percent say they plan on backing other candidates in the race.

The stakes are being raised in a competitive Republican primary battle between two incumbents, a congressman anda congresswoman, battling it out for a U.S. House seat in Central Florida.

On Tuesday, freshman U.S. Rep. Sandy Adams, who is facing a primary on Aug. 14 against fellow Florida Republican U.S. Rep. John Mica, played up her stances on immigration on Tuesday when Sheriff Joe Arpaio, the Arizona law enforcement official who has won national attention on immigration and investigating President Barack Obamas birth certificate, endorsed her.

There is something distinctly odd about U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., penning an autobiography. Rubio is a rising political star to be sure, and at the national level even. But he is still only 41.

Even as his chances of ending up as Mitt Romneys running mate seem to fade, there remains a feeling that Rubio is a man whose day will come -- but its not here yet.

U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, announced during the weekend that he will speak at a rally his presidential campaign is holding before the Republican National Convention in Tampa.

However, he will not appear at the Paul Festival, another Tampa event organized by the congressmans supporters but not authorized by his campaign. That one will feature speakers and artists.

Paul announced that he will speak at the rally, scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 26 at the University of South Floridas Sundome.

Even though the GOP has not assembled yet to nominate its presidential candidate, former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, the defending champion of the Iowa Republican caucus, is heading back to the Hawkeye State.

Former Gov. Tim Pawlenty of Minnesota went to bat Thursday for the man who beat him out for the Republican presidential nomination -- former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts.