Winner of the week: Diversity. Rick Scott's selection of Jennifer Carroll as his running mate highlighted an already noteworthy development this election season. Florida has a slate of statewide candidates that looks like the diverse state itself: a black U.S. Senate candidate (Kendrick Meek) and lieutenant governor candidate (Carroll); a Hispanic U.S. Senate candidate (Marco Rubio); four female candidates (Carroll, Alex Sink for governor, Pam Bondi for attorney general and Loranne Ausley for CFO); and a Jewish candidate for attorney general (Dan Gelber). Runner up: Kendrick Meek, for his his class act statement to the death of Marco Rubio's father (reprinted in the comments section). It's a reminder that two of these senate candidates - Rubio ancd Meek - do seem to respect one another.

Loser of the week: Marco Rubio

Controversy over the $48 million "Taj Mahal" courthouse in Tallahassee casts more clouds over Rubio's record of fiscal conservatism as Florida House speaker. Between Rubio budget chief Ray Sansom slipping $6 million in for an airplane hangar and the revelations about a lavish appeals court building, sure seems like some smelly and expensive budgetary wheeling and dealing occurred under Rubio's watch. Runner up: Debates/Florida voters. Both Charlie Crist and Rick Scott appear to be ready to dodge a bunch of televised debates this year.