On the Republican side, the front runner is Bill McCollum, who has high name recognition after holding several elected offices and running unsuccessful campaigns for other posts.

McCollum isn't a declared candidate, but the former congressman, former state attorney general, and past unsuccessful candidate for U.S. Senate and governor has the support of 22 percent of registered Republicans.

If McCollum is in the race, second place goes to U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Indian Shores, who entered the race last week. He has 11 percent, followed by U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Ponte Vedra Beach, 8 percent; Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera, 7 percent, U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-Chumuckla, 6 percent; and Orlando businessman Todd Wilcox, 1 percent.

Undecided was way ahead with 45 percent of Republicans.

If McCollum isn't in the race, Jolly is in first place with 16 percent, followed by Lopez-Cantera, 10 percent, DeSantis, 9 percent; Miller 8 percent, and Wilcox 2 percent.

Without McCollum, 55 percent of Republicans are undecided.

In a hypothetical three-way race, U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy has 26 percent, U.S. Rep. Alan Grayson has 24 percent, Graham has 11 percent, and 39 percent are undecided.

When Democrats were asked about a Graham-less contest, Murphy and Grayson were tied, with 33 percent for Grayson and 32 percent for Murphy, and 35 percent undecided.

How convenient

"On his first official foray into Central Florida as a presidential candidate, Jeb Bush called Monday for debt relief for Puerto Rico, while declaring himself the positive Republican choice for the nation's top job." "Jeb Bush calls for financial help for Puerto Rico."

He's Back

"Former U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., now the president and the CEO of the National Center for Policy Analysis (NCPA), slammed the U.S. Senate for reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank in a piece at Townhall.com published on Tuesday." "Allen West Takes Aim at Export-Import Bank Reauthorization."

RPOF works to conceal its Teabagger underbelly

There will be no RPOF straw poll, and who can blame them: these polls tend to expose the Teabagger underbelly of the state party: remember when "Herman Cain, a favorite of the tea party movement, claimed victory, taking 37 percent after Rick Perry stumbled badly in a televised debate. Perry placed second with 15 percent but his campaign never quite got back on track and he bowed out after poor performances in Iowa and New Hampshire. Mitt Romney, who would win the Florida primary and the nomination, took third with 14 percent." "RPOF Not Holding Presidential Straw Poll for 2016 After Some Big Wins and One Tea Party Stunner."

Foriduh: Teacher bonuses based on their HS test scores

"Teachers and school districts now have official guidance from the state on the controversial teacher bonus based on ACT and SAT scores."

The law gives teachers a bonus of up to $10,000 if they are rated highly effective on their evaluations and scored high on their SAT or ACT, which most take in high school.

[T]eachers can retake the test. The problem is the next SAT isn't given until after the Oct. 1 deadline. The ACT will be given Sept. 12, but there's no guarantee resuts will be back in time.

He's not angry

"Jeb Bush in Orlando says he is not an ‘angry’ conservative."

Fracking the River of Grass

Michael Mayo: "Is there black gold in them there swamps? Will drilling or fracking soon come near our precious River of Grass?" "The Everglades and oil drills shouldn't mix."

Blackjack battle gets hotter

"The battle over blackjack between the state and the Seminole Tribe got a little hotter after dueling demand letters on Monday." "Battle over blackjack at Seminole casinos heats up."

"Microwaved Republican proposals"

"'Mount Washington' much higher than Jeb's 'Mount Tallahassee'."

Scott boldly proclaimed in his inaugural address that the campaign was over, and while there would be "robust debates on the best direction for Florida" that "we should not let partisan politics, or any politics for that matter, get in our way."

But that's not been the case for the Republican governor who has grown isolated from many other Republicans in the GOP-dominated Sunshine State.

He's not actively helping the Republican Party of Florida, his recent budget vetoes angered already fragile relations with Senate Republicans, and he's at odds with other statewide elected officials such as Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam. There are questions about his relationship with Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera after Scott didn't rely on the former legislator to help push his agenda in the Legislature this past spring.

Runnin' Gub'mint Like a Bidness

"A program that would have erected miniature billboards on state trails has ended, with the company hired to find potential sponsors having found no takers." "Effort to put billboards on state trails ends with no takers."

"Murphy bolts to the left"

"During his two terms in Congress, Patrick Murphy built up the reputation as a moderate who would work both sides of the aisle for his district. But now that he's running for the Democratic Senate nomination and needs the approval of party-first-district-second, Murphy is starting to bolt to the left." "Patrick Murphy Goes Left Before Primary With Alan Grayson."

After All, There's Money Involved

The Tampa Trib editors write that "Florida’s leaders should consider why the left-leaning president and the conservative activists believe the nation is imprisoning too many people, particularly nonviolent offenders."

The nation spends $80 billion a year keeping 2.2 million people behind bars. Florida spends more than $2.2 billion a year imprisoning 100,000 people.

We agree with Charles Koch when he says it’s time the nation focuses on ensuring that the punishment fits the crime and we stop imprisoning people promiscuously, wasting tax dollars and people’s lives.

This must be done with caution. We don’t want to go back to the days when Florida prisoners served but a fraction of their sentences and criminals ran amok. Nor do we want to see penalties for certain offenses, including environmental abuses, become so slight that they become meaningless.

Environmental Group Hit with IRS Complaint

"The former mayor of Pahokee has filed a complaint with the Internal Revenue Service against the litigation arm of perhaps the largest environmental group on Florida's Treasure Coast." "Treasure Coast Environmental Group Slapped with IRS Deceptive Practices Complaint."

They’re going to hate it. . . .

A bipartisan group of very experienced political operators last week filed a constitutional amendment petition that will be known as “All Voters Vote.”

If they can round up nearly 700,000 voter signatures by next February, and get 60 percent of the voters to support it, their constitutional amendment would open the state’s “closed” primaries. The way it is now, only registered Republicans can vote in GOP primaries, only Democrats in Democratic heats, and all the rest have to wait until November – when we pretty much get to choose from what the parties offer us.

There is one little exception in current law. If only Democrats or only Republicans seek an office, everyone can vote in that race because the primary is going to determine who serves in the office. But if an unknown, unserious write-in candidate signs up, the primary is closed, under a legal interpretation by the Division of Elections.

Under an All Voters Vote arrangement, all of us — even independents or minor-party amendments — could vote in the first round. If somebody gets more than 50 percent, they’re home free. If not, the top two contenders would duke it out in November.

"Closed-door spending spree"

The Sun Sentinel editors: "Gov. Rick Scott shocked and outraged many state lawmakers last month when he vetoed $461 million in programs and projects from the budget they passed. But he also did them a favor." "End closed-door spending spree with state budget."

"Lay off Florida’s parks"

"Governor, lay off Florida’s state parks."

Open primaries?

"With 55 percent of new voters choosing not to register as Republican or Democrat, a new group is seeking signatures to transform the way primary elections are run in Florida." "Group proposes amendment to open Florida’s primaries to all voters."

"Tolls, tolls and more tolls"

Scott Maxwell: "In recent years, Florida leaders have developed a three-pronged approach to road congestion: tolls, tolls and more tolls." "Florida is addicted to tolls — at commuters' expense."

Lawmakers land big pensions

"Florida legislators keep finding ways to dodge the career-ending trap of term limits, often with richly rewarding results — paid for by taxpayers." "Lawmakers dodge term limits, land big pensions through local politics."