By BRENT BATTEN, Scripps Howard News Service

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- Floridians attending the Republican National Convention convention were so taken with Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin that Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum, speaking to state delegates Thursday morning, sounded almost critical when he said, "Sarah Palin was good last night. Very good." 600.

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- The Republican Party platform adopted this week is about half the size of the 40,000-word version it replaced.But something's been added that will be of interest to Floridians and others.The party platform for the first time endorses the concept of a national catastrophic insurance program.

ST. PAUL, Minn. -- A subdued Florida delegation to the Republican National Convention here met Monday for prayer and to hear how their plans for the week have been curtailed.The partisan political spectacle that is a national party convention has been retooled into a week of disaster awareness and fundraising.

DENVER -- There's bad news and good news for Democratic congressional candidate Robert Neeld as he seeks to unseat Republican Connie Mack in Southwest Florida.The bad news is, he won't be getting much help from the party. The good news, and it's not really good news so much as consolation, is he's not alone.

DENVER -- Terri Brady warned Florida Democrats things could change.She was right.

DENVER -- Florida's delegates to the Democratic National Convention were thinking about votes Tuesday -- those being cast at home and those to be cast Wednesday at the Pepsi Center.

DENVER -- If there was any doubt Monday what the theme for Florida's delegation to the Democratic National Convention would be, it was dispelled by 8:30 a.m.That's when Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa took the stage to address the 211 delegates, their guests and the media covering them.