Beating the Republican establishment in a costly and combative campaign, Rick Scott seized the GOP nomination for governor Tuesday.

It wasn't easy for Attorney General Bill McCollum to accept that newcomer Rick Scott had upset Florida's Republican establishment -- and with that upset, his dream of being Florida's next governor.

This is it -- primary Election Day in Florida -- in a state of increasing national importance and political vigor. As the rest of America watches -- for that matter, as Florida intently watches itself -- voters go to the polls to decide who will be their party's nominees in November’s general election.

Just like the 12th round of a close title fight when both boxers go for the knockout, Attorney General Bill McCollum and health-care executive Rick Scott, the leading candidates for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, are trying to land uppercuts and hooks before the bell, on this, the last day before the primary.

Using the new Florida chapter of his national PAC, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who ran for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and may again in 2012, sent an e-mail to supporters in the Sunshine State Friday afternoon, encouraging them to back candidates in Tuesday’s primary elections.

Did he forget the secret handshake?

A new poll from Quinnipiac University released Thursday has state CFO Alex Sink, the likely Democratic nominee, ahead of both of the Republicans in the gubernatorial race and has independent Gov. Charlie Crist ahead of Republican Marco Rubio and both of the leading Democrats in the U.S. Senate contest.

A poll released by Quinnipiac University Wednesday finds that the tide has turned in the favor of politicians running against wealthy businessmen in both the Republican gubernatorial primary and the contest for the Democratic U.S. Senate nod.

Reports are out that former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, who now lives in Florida and has become increasingly active in Sunshine State politics despite placing fourth here in the 2008 Republican presidential primary, is expected to endorse Attorney General Bill McCollum in the GOP gubernatorial contest this weekend …