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.

Reuters reports that two Democratic legislators prevailed in Tuesday's recall election in Wisconsin, leaving the Republican advantage at 17-16 in the state Senate.

The Democrats who successfully defended their seats -- Robert Wirch and Jim Holperin -- were among 14 Wisconsin state senators who left the state in an attempt to prevent passage of an anti-union measure earlier this year, Reuters said.

The Florida Republican straw poll set for Sept. 24 in Orlando took another hit Tuesday when U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann said she would not participate in future straw polls.

Coming off a win in the Iowa straw poll Saturday, the Minnesota congresswoman said through a spokesman that she would concentrate on caucuses and primaries -- not straw ballots.

A Florida Republican Party official called the decision "disappointing," but told Sunshine State News that the matter may still be up for debate.

Previously, Mitt Romney opted to skip all straw polls.