No one ever lost an election or a vote in the Legislature overestimating Mike Fasano's charm. Whatever other skills the veteran lawmaker and current state senator brings to a political showdown, he packs them in a velvet glove. ...more

November 25, 2009

In the Republican primary for Florida agriculture commissioner, U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow seems like a natural.But state Sen. Carey Baker of Eustis intends to put up a fight against Putnam in the primary. Claiming the role of the true conservative in the race, he hopes to turn the race into the kind of ideological battle that's becoming common in the Republican Party. ...more

November 23, 2009

Times are quite a bit different today than they were in February when President Barack Obama was in Fort Myers campaigning for the passage of the $787 billion "American Recovery and Reinvestment Act." ...more

November 22, 2009

Gov. Charlie Crist said he is "hopefully optimistic" that lawmakers will hold a special session soon about commuter rail, which could help the state win federal aid for a high-speed rail line from Tampa to Orlando. ...more

November 18, 2009

Gov. Charlie Crist has urged Florida lawmakers to ban texting while driving. ...more

November 17, 2009

LAND O' LAKES - No one ever lost an election or a vote in the Legislature overestimating Mike Fasano's charm. Whatever other skills the veteran lawmaker and current state senator brings to a political showdown, he packs them in a velvet glove. ...more

November 15, 2009

In another political blow to Gov. Charlie Crist, dissension in the state Republican Party broke open Thursday as a group of party officials demanded an "emergency" meeting to discuss party problems, apparently including grievances against Chairman Jim Greer. ...more

November 13, 2009

What's with Charlie Crist? The self-styled "people's governor," one of Florida's most popular political figures and certainly one of its most likeable, seems to have lost his touch. ...more

November 13, 2009

Erin Isaac is resigning as Gov. Charlie Crist's communications director. ...more

November 12, 2009

Some Gulf Coast residents hunkered down at home and in shelters Monday while others ventured outside to watch the approach of a rare late-season tropical storm that brought the potential for high winds, flooding and up to 8 inches of rain in some places. ...more

November 10, 2009