Though 31 Republican Party of Florida credit card holders -- staff members, legislative leaders and political aides -- racked up $7.3 million in American Express charges between 2007 and 2010, those fat AmEx expenditures actually represented less than 15 percent of party expenses during that period.

It's a fact, said RPOF spokeswoman Katie Gordon Betta. The RPOF raised more than $50.9 million during the same period -- and spent more than it took in: $51.6 million.

With Rep. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Ft. Lauderdale, leaving her seat to run for the state Senate, an intriguing contest is shaping up in House District 91.

District 91 stretches along the coastline of Broward County and into the southeastern corner of Palm Beach County, taking in parts of Boca Raton, Deerfield Beach, Fort Lauderdale and Pompano Beach. The district includes Port Everglades and the Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

The Republican Party of Florida released credit card records Friday containing more than $7 million in charges racked up by 31 Republicans -- not all of them household names, not all of them even party leaders.

Nevertheless, the release of such records would have been virtually unnecessary had Gov. Charlie Crist not vetoed a bill that would have allowed more transparency in fundraising and expenditures. The bill would have created so-called party affiliation committees through which expenditure reports by both Republicans and Democrats would have been more detailed.

With the session over, Sen. John Thrasher, R-St. Augustine, wants to focus on his responsibilities as chairman of the Republican Party of Florida as well as his legislative ones.

Having taken over the RPOF after a number of financial scandals under previous chairman Jim Greer, Thrasher now heads the party as it responds to Gov. Charlie Crist leaving Republican ranks to continue his bid for the U.S. Senate as an independent.

Less than a week after filing papers to run, former North Miami Mayor Kevin Burns announced at Wednesday’s Democracy for America meeting in Coral Gables that he is ending his campaign for the U.S. Senate and will instead run for the state Senate seat that Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, is vacating to run for attorney general.

Troy Stanley is the anti-Crist.

While Gov. Charlie Crist left the Republican Party to continue his run for the U.S. Senate as an independent running to the GOP’s left, Stanley left the Republicans to continue running for Congress against Ander Crenshaw from the right. With no Democrat in the race, Stanley is Crenshaw's chief opponent in the race.

While billionaire Jeff Greene has been in the Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate for less than a week, he has already shaped the race tremendously --forcing Congressman Kendrick Meek to focus on his new rival instead of on newly independent Gov. Charlie Crist or former House Speaker Marco Rubio, the likely Republican nominee.

On Monday, as Floridians wondered what impact the massive oil spill in the Gulf would have on Florida, former Tallahassee Mayor Scott Maddox called on all gubernatorial and cabinet office candidates in Florida to sign a pledge opposing any offshore oil drilling in state waters.

Maddox, the leading Democratic candidate running for commissioner of agriculture and consumer services, held a media event to unveil his pledge and reiterate his opposition to any offshore drilling.

“I urge each candidate to sign this pledge,” said Maddox.

Friday marked the deadline for federal candidates to make the November ballot. While there are some competitive races, most of the congressional incumbents appear safe. Some of them have not even drawn an opponent from the other major party.