Winner of the week: State Sen. Paula Dockery. It’s mainly through the sheer doggedness and determination of the Lakeland Republican that approval for the 61.5-mile SunRail commuter rail project near Orlando looks anything but certain more than halfway through the legislative session. Up against legions of SunRail supporters, Dockery has been relentless in raising questions about the deal.

Loser of the week: State Rep. Ron Saunders, D-Key West. The fellow in line to be House Democratic leader in 2010 looked more than a little politically tone deaf last week when he summoned House Democrats to a private, closed door meeting to discuss fundraising, candidate recruitment, and budget and tax policy. Plenty of Democrats saw the perception problem and steered clear. "As you know, mixing fundraising with votes on legislation is wholly improper and calls into question the integrity of the process,’’ Rep. Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek, wrote in an e-mail objecting to the meeting.