Already ahead of his Republican rivals in the polls and in gathering endorsements, U.S. Rep. Connie Mack strengthened his status as the favorite in the race on Tuesday as he gained new backing.

On Tuesday, FreedomWorks, a prominent national conservative organization with ties to the tea party movement, announced that its PAC was backing Mack for the Republican nomination to challenge U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.

In a story by Kenric Ward, Sunshine State News reported last week that the organization would likely throw its support behind Mack.

One of the worst things that can happen to a presidential nominee is being forced to look over his shoulder at the candidates he beat out for the partys nod -- and see that they are still running.

Mitt Romney does not want to see the likes of Rick Santorum and Herman Cain at the Republican convention in Tampa focusing on the Iowa and New Hampshire delegates.

In one of the most interesting and competitive congressional primaries in the nation, two Republicans battling to represent a district in Central Florida -- U.S. Rep. John Mica and U.S. Rep. Sandy Adams -- are looking to rally conservatives to their banner by hammering President Barack Obamas immigration policies.

?While he passed at jumping into the Republican primary for U.S. Senate, Florida CFO Jeff Awater continues to remain politically active, endorsing candidates in competitive contests.

?Despite floating his name in the Senate race to take on Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson, Atwater has generated buzz as a future gubernatorial candidate in either the 2014 or, more likely, the 2018 election cycles. Whatever his future plans, Atwater has shown no hesitation in backing candidates in some of the most competitive Republican primaries in Florida.

While former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts has won enough delegates in the primaries and caucuses to claim the Republican presidential nomination, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, continues to pick up delegates for when the GOP holds its convention in Tampa come August.

Paul picked up 21 out of 25 delegates up for grabs at conventions in Iowa over the weekend. Former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania, who nosed out Romney to win more popular votes than any of the other candidates in Iowa, pulled out of the race earlier in the election cycle.

With Sen. Jim Norman, R-Tampa, ending his bid for re-election earlier in the week, House Speaker Pro Tempore John Legg, R-New Port Richey, has been attracting endorsements from the GOP leadership as he seeks to represent parts of Pasco and Hillsborough counties in the Senate. But two primary rivals insist they will continue their own campaigns.

With charges about ethics violations continuing to circle him, Norman bowed out of the race on Tuesday after filing his paperwork last week indicating that he would seek another term.

Despite jumping in the primary seeking the Republican nomination to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November in recent weeks, former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon garnered the support of a major conservative organization on Thursday -- while U.S. Rep. Connie Mack, the front-runner for the GOP nod, continues to build his organization.

The seven bishops based in Florida on Thursday called for Catholics in the Sunshine State to pray and ponder the role of religion in the public square.

During her bid to become Florida attorney general, Pam Bondi downplayed talk about her future political ambitions and ripped into her opponents -- Jeff Kottkamp and Holly Benson in the Republican primary and Democrat Dan Gelber in the general election -- as career politicians.

With two months to go until the primary, despite refusing to commit to an upcoming debate, U.S. Rep. Connie Mack is ahead of his Republican rivals in the polls and the GOP leadership is increasingly rallying behind the congressman to be their partys choice to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November.

On Wednesday, Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi became the latest high-profile Republican to endorse Macks Senate bid.