Secretary Clinton tops U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and other possible Republican candidates, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University poll finds.

Gov. Bush gets 22 percent in a hypothetical GOP primary with Rubio at 18 percent, New Jersey Gov. Christopher Christie at 14 percent and U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas at 12 percent. No other candidate tops 9 percent, with 12 percent undecided.

Clinton sweeps a Democratic primary with 70 percent, followed by Vice President Joseph Biden at 9 percent and no other candidate above 4 percent. Ten percent are undecided.

Head to head, Clinton gets 47 percent to Bush's 45 percent. She tops other Republicans:

45 - 41 percent over Christie; 50 - 43 percent over Rubio; 51 - 41 percent over U.S. Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky; 50 - 42 percent over U.S. Rep. Paul Ryan of Wisconsin; 52 - 36 percent over Cruz.

Florida voters say 56 - 39 percent that Clinton would make a good president, the best score of any candidate, followed by Christie at 45 - 35 percent, with Bush at a split 46 - 44 percent. All other candidates get negative scores, including Rubio with 39 - 47 percent.

"It's no surprise that Hillary Clinton is well thought of by Florida voters, but when asked whether she would be a good president, more voters say yes than say they will vote for her," said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute.

"Nonetheless, she is neck and neck with former Gov. Jeb Bush and has a narrow lead over Chris Christie. Another Florida favorite Son, Sen. Marco Rubio, doesn't fare as well."

"Florida Democrats have eyes for no one but Hillary; seven in 10 back her for the nomination in 2016 and no one else is in double digits," Brown added. "The GOP nomination fight is another story. Former Gov. Jeb Bush, Sen. Marco Rubio and three other potential aspirants get 9 percent or more and it is a forgone conclusion that the 2016 GOP nomination fight in Florida will be very competitive."

Disapproval is 93 - 6 percent among Republicans and 64 - 34 percent among independent voters, while Democrats approve 79 - 16 percent. Women disapprove 52 - 44 percent and men disapprove 63 - 35 percent.

Voters oppose the Affordable Care Act 54 - 39 percent, with partisan numbers that roughly match the president's approval rating.

ACA will make their healthcare worse in the next year, 44 percent of voters say, while 21 percent say the reform act will make their healthcare better and 31 percent say ACA will not affect their healthcare.

"When things were going well for President Barack Obama, he enjoyed overwhelming support among women and either tied or was slightly ahead among men. Now the shoe is on the other foot. He's down 28 percentage points among men and eight points among women," said Brown. "He is losing independents by 30 points and losing by 40 points among white voters. Even one in six Democrats give him a thumbs down. The question for the president is whether he has hit bottom or whether, as happened when President George W. Bush's numbers reached this neighborhood, there is further downside to come?"

Background: Nelson "told a reporter this week" he might run for governor if it starts looking like the Democratic nominee, presumably Crist, would lose to Scott.

Will unincorporated Hillsborough secede?

"Tampa ranks at the top of Florida cities for its support of gay and lesbian people, according to report issued this week by the Human Rights Campaign, a group that promotes gay rights." "Tampa tops among Florida cities for support of gays".

What say you, Mr. Scott?

"The long-simmering battle over teaching evolution in Texas boiled over at a late-night meeting, as the Board of Education extended preliminary approval of new science books for use in classrooms across the state but held up one biology text because of alleged factual errors." "Evolution debate again engulfs Texas board".

Meanwhile, Texas Gov. Rick Perry has endorsed Scott’s run for reelection in 2014. "It’s a bromance: Texas Gov. Perry endorses 'passionate' Rick Scott".

"Big Data v. Big Cynicism"

Aaron Deslatte: "Florida is months from next year's election, triggering the hard legwork that comes with processing the expressed political will of millions of voters."

And there's still no word from Gov. Rick Scott's elections apparatus about when or whether the state will re-initiate a controversial attempt to use a federal immigrant-verification database to prune illegal voters from the rolls.

Call it a case of Big Data v. Big Cynicism.

Although Secretary of State Ken Detzner staged a statewide roadshow this fall to showcase a reboot of the program — which was attempted in the midst of the 2012 elections and then abandoned — the details funneled to county election supervisors have been scant.

Critics of the effort — including groups such as the Advancement Project, League of Women Voters and the American Civil Liberties Union — blasted the 2012 effort over what they say was a blatant, 2000-style attempt to trim Democrats from the rolls.

But because the U.S. Supreme Court has whittled away at the Voting Rights Act, those organizations would have fewer legal options to challenge another voter purge.

The court ruling last summer is the main reason Florida has kick-started its review. Last year, the Division of Elections identified 182,000 potential noncitizens but ultimately whittled that to a list of 2,600. Even that list was flawed, with a World War II veteran accidentally flagged as a noncitizen.

Detzner has pledged the federal database access is a "game-changer" and will help state employees review each case individually and forward documentation on the findings to the counties.

But some aren't buying the effort as anything more than what they already do — and are insisting that they have access to the federal database themselves to verify the state's work.

Detzner has steadfastly refused to say when the effort will kick off.

Of RNC police and portalets

"The city of Tampa spent just more than half its $50 million federal security grant housing and feeding out-of-town law enforcement officers, renting portable toilets and leasing a protest area near the Forum during last year’s Republican National Convention, according to a city report issued Friday."

The weeklong gathering also cost the city nearly $677,000 in costs not covered by the federal grant — including $171,000 in lost revenue from closed parking garages, more than $63,000 spent maintaining streets and welding manholes shut, and $28,000 picking up trash downtown.

Florida takes lead nationwide in adding (low paying) jobs

"Florida's unemployment rate dropped to 6.7 percent in October — the lowest in more than five years — as the state added more jobs than any other in the country, officials said Friday." "Florida unemployment drops to 6.7% in October". See also "Florida's jobless rate drops to 6.7 percent" and "Florida jobless rate drops to 6.7 percent".

Where's Florida's "conservative 'bad girl'"?

"Here today. Gone tomorrow. Maybe to Nicaragua. Maybe not."

Ana Alliegro is again shrouded in mystery.

The self-styled conservative “bad girl” at the center of a federal criminal investigation into a former Miami congressman, Alliegro appeared to have left town and claimed on her Facebook page last week that she was in Granada, Nicaragua.

Again.

But no one’s sure

Her Facebook page makes it sound as if she’s much happier in Nicaragua.

Florida wingnuts in a dither

"Support for the proposed constitutional amendment is strong among voters of every political stripe, age and income level, the poll shows." Poll: 82 percent favor medical marijuana, plurality support pot legalization.

Clinton-Crist Ticket in 2016?

"Hillary Clinton-Charlie Crist Ticket in 2016?".

Big of him

"The former-Republican-governor-turned-Democrat has an overwhelming lead on the former state senator in polls but Nan Rich created a lot of goodwill among liberal Democrats during her legislative career. A faction is committed to her and a North Florida party activist said a debate will be a good thing for Rich, Crist and the party. " "Crist open to debating Rich".

Weekly Roundup

"Weekly Roundup: Don't Worry? No. But Be Happy? Maybe". See also "Week in Review for Nov. 22, 2013".

Rubio strides world stage

"In a possible preview of a 2016 presidential platform, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio on Wednesday broadly criticized the international record of President Barack Obama while outlining his own plan for more robust U.S. involvement overseas." "Rubio targets Obama's record in foreign-policy speech".

Will anti-flouride crowd dominate CD 13 GOP primary?

"If conventional wisdom applied here, Kathleen Peters and David Jolly would cast themselves in the most conservative light possible, disavowing gay marriage and embracing gun rights while portraying the other as centrist — even liberal — as they vied for the Republican nomination in the District 13 congressional race."

But that approach might not work so well with voters used to the more pragmatic approach of C.W. ”Bill” Young, who represented the district for 42 years until his death last month.

In this district, which includes most of Pinellas County from Dunedin south, excluding downtown and South St. Petersburg, the tea party’s 2011 ruckus over fluoride left a bad enough taste with voters that they ousted two of the incumbent Republicans that voted to remove it from the water supply.

It’s a district where Republican and Democratic lawmakers alike toured beaches and hotels in the wake of the Deepwater Horizon spill and openly criticized offshore oil drilling. It’s also a district where most of the county’s Republican county commissioners support revamping public transit and possibly building a light rail system linking Clearwater and St. Petersburg.

Expect a "last-man-standing mud bath"

"A race for governor between Gov. Rick Scott and former Gov. Charlie Crist will be a last-man-standing mud bath, according to a new Quinnipiac University poll . . . ." "Quinnipiac Poll forecasts nasty Scott-Crist campaign for governor".

Scott insider power struggle

"Amid a power struggle with Gov. Rick Scott’s new chief of staff, the pollster-architect of the Republican’s unexpected campaign victory in 2010 has taken a step back from day-to-day operations of his reelection campaign for next year."

Pollster Tony Fabrizio said in an email that he is still working for the governor, but he downplayed and declined to comment about what has become an open secret in Tallahassee — his clashes with Scott’s chief of staff Adam Hollingsworth.

Since he was appointed in the summer of 2012, Hollingsworth has tried to take over more political operations in the state capital and minimized Scott’s 2010 loyalists, Republicans say.

Replacing Fabrizio as his day-to-day overseer of tactics and message role: Curt Anderson of the firm OnMessage, which remains the lead ad firm on Scott’s team. Anderson and Fabrizio are close friends and worked hand-in-glove on the 2010 campaign.

Fabrizio remains Scott’s pollster and his firm will continue to handle the campaign’s media buying. His firm has been paid at least $1 million by Scott’s political committee, Let’s Get to Work, and the Republican Party of Florida. . . .

News of the reshuffle in Scott’s campaign world troubled Republican consultants who have grown nervous about Scott’s unpopularity and polls showing Crist, a Republican-turned-independent-turned Democrat and former governor, could beat him by as many as 10 percentage points if the election were held today.

One early conflict arose after Hollingsworth unilaterally decided to advise Scott to sign into law a bill to increase campaign contribution limits by six-fold — to $3,000 per individual — which Fabrizio said ceded a significant advantage to Crist who is already a prolific fundraiser.

Crist is on pace to raise more than $1 million since announcing this month his gubernatorial bid, though much of the money was donated to his political committee, which can take unlimited sums.

One Republican said Fabrizio told others that Scott’s decision to sign that bill "did more politically for Crist" than Crist’s mega-donor boss, trial lawyer John Morgan or the Florida Democratic Party could do.

questioned Hollingsworth for approving an alligator-hunting hunt fundraiser for the governor only to scuttle it amid bad publicity; and Fabrizio questioned why Scott was encouraged by Hollingsworth to not attend an education summit that the governor called.

The final conflict came more recently when Hollingsworth pushed to have his longtime ally, Sen. John Thrasher, appointed as Scott’s new lieutenant governor. Fabrizio staunchly pushed for a Hispanic female.

Both lost, apparently.

Neither Thrasher nor a Hispanic female made the list.

• Nelson, a three-time statewide winner, becomes a little more-favored than Crist to beat Scott, according to lawmakers, pollsters and consultants of both parties. However, the last major poll by Quinnipiac University in June, showed each could beat Scott by exactly 10 points, and that Crist and Nelson had similar favorable ratings.

• In Scott, Nelson faces a candidate like no other, a $100 million attack juggernaut. Though unpopular, Scott has a far tougher team than anything faced by Nelson, who had relatively easy-meat opponents he bested in Democratic wave years. Though Crist’s flip-floppery is an inviting target for Scott, so is Nelson’s record as a career Washington politician who has voted to raise taxes and back Obamacare.

• Barack Obama has egg on his face. The president used Crist (and vice versa now) in his campaign and tapped him to speak at the national party convention. Top Florida Obama hands work for Crist, who officially became a Democrat at a White House Christmas reception.

• A safe Democratic U.S. Senate seat — worth untold millions in D.C. — is put at risk. If Nelson becomes governor, he appoints his successor. Expect the GOP-led Florida Legislature to consider changing that — especially because some Nelson donors want him to appoint his protégé: Weston Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the Democratic National Committee’s chairwoman, reviled by many Republicans.

• The Florida Democratic Party takes a step back. Lacking a bench, it had one clearly recognizable statewide figure — Nelson — until Crist joined its ranks. Now Nelson could undercut the politician who essentially increased the party’s number of high-profile Florida Democrats by 100 percent.

And the risks right now seem to outweigh the benefits for Democrats. Why go through the trouble?

Nelson, 71, had wanted to be governor for a long time. And perhaps he’s tired of being a member of a do-little Congress.

Crist put the best face on it all, saying he seeks Nelson’s counsel, respects him and speculates that, if the senator does have concerns "maybe he's just really worried about me. And that's pretty nice."

Charlie's Angels

"A Closer Look at Who's Giving to Charlie Crist". See also "Crist holds first Tampa fundraiser Sunday"Meanwhile, "Candidate Crist: I'm not afraid Obamacare will hurt campaign".

Rubio grubs for wingnuts

"Rubio to anti-gay group: Nation's morality at risk".

Crist hitting the campaign trail hard

"Former Gov. Charlie Crist has been hitting the campaign trail hard lately, all while knocking Gov. Rick Scott’s record along the way. One of Crist’s harshest criticisms of Scott is on education -- the former governor attacked Scott for cutting education by $1.3 billion during his time in office." "Charlie Crist Hits a Nerve of Anti-Common Core Movement".

Bad day

"A Florida congressman has been charged with misdemeanor cocaine possession in Washington." "Fla. Congressman charged with cocaine possession". See also "Tea party Rep. Trey Radel busted for cocaine in D.C.".

Wingers go after Dem CFO candidate

Nancy Smith is worried about William Rankin. She writes that, "If Democrats think William Rankin sounds too good to be true, he probably is."

Never mind the military service and swooning female fan club. From his questionable Florida residency to a wildly embellished resume, the slick, pretty boy from Cincinnati looking to unseat CFO Jeff Atwater just doesn't add up.

"Governor Congratulations"

"Call him Governor Congratulations."

For the last year, Gov. Rick Scott has asked for the names and addresses of lottery winners, Florida bar candidates, professional license applicants, recent college graduates and even agency staff so that he can pen them a personalized note or an “attaboy.”

Some get a hand-written recognition of a special achievement, a new family member, even a birthday wish. Most get a form letter of congratulations, studded with the talking points of the governor’s re-election campaign.

"It is my pleasure to congratulate you on winning a Florida Lottery prize!’’ Scott has written to 18,541 lottery winners since September. He then notes how Lottery proceeds go into education, how education helps create jobs and repeats his mantra: "I am focused on keeping Florida’s economy moving in the right direction."

It’s all a part of the governor’s attempt to turn the routine courtesies of the office into a public relations machine.

"No hesitation in taking shots at Ross"

"With 2014 looming, [Republican Congressman Dennis] Ross won’t have as easy a time as he did in the last election cycle. He faced no opposition in 2012. That isn’t the case this time out. Alan Cohn, a former television investigative reporter, is already running hard as a Democrat and has shown no hesitation in taking shots at Ross." "Dennis Ross Remains a Conservative Force in Washington".

Sink alone

"3 GOP candidates, Sink qualify to run for Young's House seat". See also "Qualifying begins in District 13 congressional race".

Putnam says no to MJ

"Putnam adds opposition to medical-marijuana amendment".

Scott politics using taxpayer-funded letters

"Gov. Rick Scott is known as the 'jobs' governor, but he's happy to take on another title: Florida's braggart-in-chief."

“Gosh, I think every Floridian ought to brag about our state,” he told reporters Tuesday. “Look, we live in a great state.”

Scott responded to a question about his sending out letters on official letterhead congratulating new lawyers on passing the Florida Bar.

The letters, dated Oct. 30, are similar in tone to those he sent to new business owners earlier this year.

He first takes a swipe at former Republican governor and now Democratic challenger Charlie Crist, whom Scott succeeded in office.

Scott's letter notes, without naming Crist, that he inherited a state that had “lost more than 832,000 jobs” while “state debt increased by $5.2 billion, our housing market had collapsed, our economy was off track, and our families were hurting.”

He then goes on to tout the state's job creation, decrease in unemployment, low taxes and efficient government under his administration.

The letter to business owners includes more personal touches, discussing his childhood growing up in public housing and his first job “… selling TV Guides door to door.”

In sum, the letters parrot many of Scott's talking points as he heads toward the 2014 election season.

Florida Forever has languished since 2009

"While funding for the Florida Forever land-buying program has languished since 2009, the Rural and Family Lands Protection Program received a big boost in the 2013-14 state budget with an $11.5-million appropriation." "Putnam touts alternative to land-buying but environmentalists say purchases still needed". The Tampa Trib editors: "DEP should revamp surplus lands list".

"Commie brainwashing"

"Common Core comments run from 'great' to 'commie brainwashing'".

A real yawner

"Gov. Rick Scott considering four names for lieutenant governor". See also "Scott taking it slow with lieutenant governor, insurance appointments".

The former Republican-governor-turned-independent-turned-Democrat is a trial lawyer at Orlando-based Morgan & Morgan, although his employer is missing from the early list.

Coral Gables-based Grossman Roth gave $250,000.

Gravis Marketing?

About that recent Gravis Marketing Florida poll: "One year out from the 2014 state election, Republican-turned-Democrat former Gov. Charlie Crist holds a 10-point lead over current Republcian Gov. Rick Scott in a head-to-head matchup according to a new poll by Gravis Marketing of Winter Springs."

In the same poll, a strong majority of voters are saying they are undecided when asked to choose between incumbent Republican Attorney General Pam Bondi and either of the two Democrats running to oppose her, George Sheldon or Perry Thurston. For both of the potential Democratic nominees for attorney general, the Florida population has a “Who are they?” opinion, with more than 90 percent saying they don’t know. Bondi has double-digit leads on either of them but is far from gaining 50 percent herself.

The Crist-Scott matchup, which would happen if Crist defeats former state Sen. Nan Rich in a Democratic primary, appear fueled partly by a still-strong disapproval rating for Scott and an assumption by many voters that Crist better understands average Floridians better.

"Both (Crist and Scott) are doing well with their parties but the independent [vote] is the key," said Gravis managing partner Doug Kaplan.

Crist leads among independents 51-30. "Crist is killing him with independents," Kaplan said.

Weekly Roundup

"Week in Review for Nov. 15, 2013". See also "Weekly Roundup: Deja Vu for Bill Nelson, Charlie Crist".

Obama campaign workers flock to Crist

"Charlie Crist’s career as a Republican was ruined four years ago after he hugged President Barack Obama onstage; now he says it could be his salvation as a Democrat."

Running again for his old post with a new party affiliation, Crist is being embraced by another aspect of the president: former Florida campaign workers for Obama, who has twice carried the Sunshine State.

At least seven former Obama Florida campaign workers — from his pollster to a top political consultant to media experts to his fundraiser — now form the nucleus of Crist’s new campaign team.

Lobbyists post earnings

"Health care, sugar and gambling interests spent the most with lobbyists during the summer months when most lawmakers spend time away from Tallahassee. The top three earners remain the same with Ballard Partners edging out Ron Book and the Southern Strategy Group." "Lobbyists post quarterly earnings".

Mario Diaz-Balart’s district wants action

"More than 6 in 10 voters in Republican Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart’s district say he needs to be more aggressive pushing immigration reform this year, according to a new poll showing that a higher number of them favor a comprehensive bill that he hasn’t yet backed."

The 605-voter survey, conducted by Public Policy Polling for the liberal-leaning Florida New Majority, is a sign of the troubles Diaz-Balart has faced while trying to get a bipartisan bill passed in the U.S. House, where GOP leaders have kept the issue from a vote.

For months, the Miami representative and others have met in secret and tried to hammer out a bill that a majority of the Republican House caucus would back.

But with no bill yet as the year ends, the meetings have started to haunt Diaz-Balart because advocates and voters in District 25 want to see more results.

Detzner "false" claim about Florida's voting rolls purge

"Florida Secretary of State Ken Detzner has been on a public relations mission to defend his plan to use federal Homeland Security data to search for noncitizens on the voting rolls."

The key to the revamped process is using a federal resource of data, called the Systematic Alien Verification for Entitlements, or SAVE.

To be sure, a

federal document lists voter registration as one of the benefits that SAVE data can be used for to check citizenship status. However, [Politifact] found no documentation to support Detzner’s claim that voter registration is one of its "main functions."

SAVE is primarily used for agencies to check citizenship status for public benefits or driver’s licenses. Using SAVE to check voter registration eligibility is a more recent use, and only in effect in four states, plus a few Arizona counties. For fiscal year 2013, voter registration queries equaled less than 1 percent of the searches.

We rate this claim False.

Common core "flash point for critics"

Travis Pillow: "As Florida looks to quell the controversy over its new education standards, state education officials are working on a decision that will affect how those standards apply to nearly 2 million students. The tests set to come online next school year have become a flash point for critics of the Common Core State Standards — as well as legislative leaders who say the state is unlikely to abandon them. They were singled out by Gov. Rick Scott as he issued an executive order that brought the standards under a new round of scrutiny." "Common Core: What test will replace FCAT, and who will develop it?"

Rubio panders to Florida fringe

"Sen. Marco Rubio told an anti-gay group Saturday night that moral issues need to be part of government debate and that the United States needs to do more to protect religious freedom abroad."

“The moral well-being of our nation is our business. It’s everybody’s business,” Rubio said to applause at the Florida Family Policy Council fundraising dinner. “The debate we should be having isn’t whether or not we have a right to talk about values and morals in the public square, the debate we should be having instead is which values and morals our nation should focus on.”

After he took the stage, one man yelled, “Rubio for president!” followed by applause.

“The American Dream cannot be saved unless our people have the values they need for success,” Rubio said. “They cannot be taught by government, and they will not be taught by the tornado of entertainment content and media messaging swirling around our children every day.”

The dinner was raising money for the group that led the petition drive to put a gay marriage ban on the state ballot. The constitutional amendment was approved by voters in 2008. The appearance came a little more than a week after Rubio voted against a bill that would have outlawed workplace discrimination against gays.

Obamacare supporters across Florida in high spirits

The Sunshine State News doesn't understand why, what it calls the "raincloud of poor enrollment numbers" has failed to dampen "the spirits of Obamacare supporters across Florida -- some still appear to be in high spirits despite the fact that Florida’s enrollment numbers were, by all definitions, much lower than anticipated. Only 3,571 people successfully signed up for health care in the entire state, a number comparably lower than the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ estimate of 3.5 million who are uninsured in the state of Florida." "Low Enrollment Hasn't Dampened Obamacare Supporters' Spirits".

See also "Only 3,600 Floridians Enroll in Affordable Care Act’s First Month; Obama Accepts Blame But Questions Abound".

Politics Muddy Merits of Medical MJ

"The Florida Supreme Court will try to sort through the conflicting arguments between Attorney General Pam Bondi, who opposes legalization, and proponents of the measure. The court hearing is scheduled for Dec. 5, a key step in deciding whether voters will get to have their say next fall." "As High Court Takes On Medical Marijuana Proposal in Florida, Politics Muddy Merits".

In the meantime the Tampa Trib editors write that "You would have to be under the influence of a controlled substance to miss the hypocrisy."

State lawmakers who routinely subject the voters of Florida to arcane constitutional amendment proposals that serve their ideological purposes are now up in arms that a 2014 ballot initiative proposed by a citizens group might possibly be misleading.

Recently, legislative leaders joined Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi in challenging the ballot language proposed by the group behind legalizing medical marijuana in Florida.

We’ll leave questions about legalizing medical marijuana for another day, and instead focus on a process that stacks the deck in favor of lawmakers when it comes to changing the state’s constitution. It’s an inequity that should be rectified by lawmakers. But don’t count on it.

Even Florida YRs acknowledge FlaGOP alienating their peers

Even (some) of Florida's Young Republicans are beginning to see it. Anthony Man writes that "Young Republicans are increasingly worried that their party is doing so much to alienate their peers that it's an endangered species, facing an increasingly tough time winning big elections."

The problem is especially pronounced in South Florida, with its liberal social views and diverse population, which make it especially difficult to sell the Republican brand to young voters, party activists say.

As the national organization of Young Republicans joins with the statewide Florida group at the GALLERYone DoubleTree Suites Hotel in Fort Lauderdale this weekend for schooling, strategizing and socializing, many are calling on the party to change — fast.

"It's what we face every day as young Republicans," said Daniel Ruoss, 33, former vice chairman of the Florida Federation of Young Republicans and current board member of the Young Republican National Federation. "There is a stereotype out there of Republicans as old and white, pro-big business, screw the poor."

Dan Daley, 23, a Republican and elected city commissioner in Coral Springs, said legions of younger voters are turned off by many of the party's positions. "There is very little doubt the party needs to change," Daley said. "The party needs to get away from focusing on the social issues and more on the fiscal issues."

It's a critical topic for young Republicans at their weekend conference.

Robert Watson, a professor of American studies at Lynn University in Boca Raton, said there is a "real disconnect" between young voters and Republican positions on issues such as same-sex marriage, marijuana decriminalization, abortion and immigration reform.

Brittany Bruce, 26 ["proud American and lover of liberty"], isn't convinced the situation is dire. Bruce, a Republican committeewoman and president of the Palm Beach County Young Republicans, said her party's stands on economics and freedom are so superior to Democratic policies that it doesn't need to change on social issues.

Scott paints himself into a corner

How much more of "runnin' Florida like a bidness" stuff can Floridians take? "Florida physicians have made the argument for years:"

The state's Medicaid payment rates are so low that many doctors wouldn't take patients covered under the program.

But the federal Affordable Care Act provided a temporary solution. In 2013 and 2014, the law calls on the federal government to spend hundreds of millions of dollars to boost the pay of primary-care physicians who provide much of the treatment for low-income Floridians enrolled in Medicaid.

Now, however, Florida lawmakers and doctors face a dilemma. The federal government will stop covering the full cost of the physician pay increases at the end of next year. And that means Florida taxpayers would have to pick up part of the extra cost if the pay continue into 2015.