Florida: Corcoran endorses Putnam. State House Speaker Richard Corcoran (R) in a surprise move declined to run for governor but endorsed Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam (R) for the state’s top spot. “I’ve known Adam, I know his character,” he told the media at a Tallahassee news conference. “He is principled, authentic and passionate, and he loves this state. Adam will be a phenomenal leader.” Putnam’s chief GOP rival, US Rep. Ron DeSantis, who has been endorsed by President Trump, responded, “Insiders only know how to play one game, and that’s making deals to save their own skin.” ……. Arkansas: Cotton succeeds Cruz. In a column titled, “The Senate’s new pariah, Tom Cotton,” the Washington Post’s Dana Milbank yesterday blasted US Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) for interrupting and what Milbank called “heckling” of Democratic senators during the confirmation hearing for Gina Haspel to head the CIA. Cotton, he wrote, “has surpassed Ted Cruz (R-TX) as the most disliked member of the Senate” ……. Democrats: 2020 contenders moving and shaking. The Hill newspaper on Wednesday published the names of eight – yes, eight – potential Democratic candidates for president in 2020: US Sens. Cory Booker (NJ), Kirsten Gillibrand (NY), Kamala Harris (CA), Bernie Sanders (VT) and Elizabeth Warren (MA); former Vice President Joe Biden, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and former New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu. Some are on book-hawking tours or visiting key states, others kinda/sorta raising funds – “Nothing official, but lots of wink winks,” one fundraiser told The Hill. Stay tuned …….