Democrats have high hopes of picking up this seat stretching across the northern part of the state, containing all of Alachua, Bradford, Gilchrist and Union counties and parts of Columbia, Levy, Marion and Putnam counties. Nevertheless, Republican Sen. Steve Oelrich of Gainesville remains the favorite.
Trailing badly in the polls behind health-care executive Rick Scott in the fight for the Republican gubernatorial nomination, Attorney General Bill McCollum sought to reinforce his crime-fighting credentials Monday.
In its first hearing since the Florida Senate rejected two of its members, the Florida Public Service Commission heard arguments for and against a proposed biomass electricity plant in Gainesville.
