A poll conducted by Magellan Strategies for the New Hampshire Journal finds that former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts remains in the lead in the first primary state, but a new candidate -- Gov. Rick Perry of Texas -- makes his debut with a strong second-place showing.

The poll was unveiled Wednesday.

Florida Republican Congressman Vern Buchanans bill to open up the bicameral "supercomittee," tasked under the recent federal debt-ceiling deal to cut spending, received some conservative support Wednesday when the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) backed the bill.

The NTU, which has been fighting for decades for lower taxes and smaller government, has sent letters to all members of Congress urging them to back Buchanans bill, which is sponsored by U.S. Sen. Dean Heller, R-Nev., in the Senate.

Florida continues to ramp up its efforts in the war against prescription drug abuse. At the state Cabinet meeting Tuesday, Attorney General Pam Bondi sponsored a measure to mark Aug. 27 as Prescription Drug Take-Back Day" -- a day when Floridians will be able to return unused and expired medications at more than 70 pharmacies and law-enforcement centers in 21 counties across the state. The measure passed without opposition.

Roy Moore, the former chief justice of the Alabama state Supreme Court, who made national headlines for his defense of a Ten Commandments monument in his courtroom, has left the door open to running for president on the Constitution Party line.

Hillsborough County Commissioner Mark Sharpe announced Monday that he is planning to enter the Republican primary to take on Democratic U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor.

"I am going to file the paperwork for the United States Congress District 11, Sharpe announced at a meeting in Tampa Monday morning.

The new candidates announcement was quickly forwarded by the Hillsborough County Republicans via Twitter.