Politics

If Nov. 7 brought pangs of withdrawal from the end of the presidential race — good news!

The next one has already started.

Witness last week's dust-up over the American Conservative Union's failure to invite New Jersey's Chris Christie, one of the most popular Republican governors in the country, to its annual Conservative Political Action Conference. And if that flew under the radar, this week's book tour launch by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has removed all doubt that the countdown to Iowa has begun.

Some are speculating that current Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford has plans to unseat Governor Rick Scott in 2014, after the Republican Governor upset many of his colleagues with the Medicaid expansion announcement. But, Weatherford Thursday tried to put those rumors to rest.

“I think people who are saying those things must not know me very well. I’m busy enough trying to be the Speaker of the House. And, I think the Governor is doing a good job," said Weatherford.