* Attorney General Bill McCollum lags behind Rick Scott in the Republican primary for governor a poll conducted by his own camp shows, according to Politico.  As of July 23rd Scott was edging McCollum 37 percent to 31 percent  with 32 percent of the voters undecided.The poll, conducted by  McLaughlin & Associates, also shows results from a separate poll conducted during the first week of July which shows the two candidates tied at 35 percent and with 30 percent undecided. In a memo accompanying the results Jim McLaughlin attributes Scott's lead to his recent surge of advertising. The poll surveyed 600 likely Republican voters.

* The Florida Medical Association said Tuesday that it had commissioned its own poll that showed Rick Scott barely edging Bill McCollum 37 percent to 33 percent in the GOP primary for governor. The poll of 600 likely Republican voters also found that some 30 percent were undecided. FMA executive vice president Timothy Stapleton contended the large number of undecided voters was a good sign given the millions that Scott has spent on the campaign so far.

 *Jeff Greene, Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, released two new 30-second ads -- “Crooked” and “Too Corrupt”-- attacking primary opponent Kendrick Meek. One ad attacks Meek's voting record while the other focuses on Meek's ties to an indicted South Florida developer.

* Pam Bondi, a Republican candidate for attorney general, came out on top in the 2010 Political Hob Nob Poll conducted by the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.  The poll shows Bondi topping her competition with 27 percent of the vote, while Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp took 18 percent of the vote. Sen. Dan Gelber, D-Miami Beach, Sen. Dave Aronberg, D-Greenacres, and former Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary and state Rep. Holly Benson lagged behind capturing just 13 percent of the vote.

* There's been movement in negotiations to stage a debate before the August primary between Sen. Dave Aronberg and Sen. Dan Gelber in the race for Attorney General. Aronberg sent a letter to Gelber denying the request for 11 separate debates calling it a political stunt but suggested that debates be held in the Panhandle and either Orlando or Tampa,  according to The Palm Beach Post. 

* Rep. Chris Horner, R-Kissimmee and candidate for House District 79, released his first TV ad. The 30-second spot titled “Where I Stand” gives a brief overview of issues that his campaign stands for, including his support for the Arizona immigration law, lowering taxes, balancing the budget, protecting gun rights and creating jobs.

* Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink’s spokesman Kevin Cate is headed back to the campaign trail. Cate is leaving Sink’s office so he can work for Democrat Loranne Ausley in her bid to be elected CFO.

* In endorsement news, Attorney General Bill McCollum has been endorsed by prominent social conservative leader Gary Bauer. Sen. John Thrasher, R-Jacksonville, announced that he has been endorsed by the Florida Police Benevolent Association. Two former chairmen of the Republican Party of Florida, Carole Jean Jordan and Tom Slade, have endorsed Holly Benson in the Republican primary for Attorney General. Tom Garcia, candidate for Congressional District 24 seat, has been endorsed by iCaucus. Richard Corcoran, announced the National Rifle Association and Unified Sportsmen of Florida have endorsed him in the Republican primary for House District 45.

Originally published in the Florida Current - exclusively distributed via Lobbytools  - Florida's Premiere Legislative and Media Monitoring Service.