As she mulls her own political return, Alex Sink (D) “resents all the attention on lifelong-Republican-turned-Democrat Charlie Crist and is intent on being courted for as long as possible,” the Tampa Bay Times reports.

She is “revolted by the prospect of Crist as the Democratic nominee” and called the possibility “a disaster.”

“The campaign against former Gov. Crist would be brutal, she said, noting the job losses during his term, flip-flops on issues, ‘plus all the stuff that hasn’t been written about yet, about the Republican Party fiasco, about Jim Greer, about the party in the Bahamas,’ she said, referring to Crist’s hand-picked GOP chairman, now in prison for stealing party funds and who was accused of hiring prostitutes at a fundraising retreat Crist attended.”

Former Utah Gov. Mike Leavitt (R), the chair of Mitt Romney’s transition efforts, gave ABC News a tour of the White House that never was — where he says the Romney transition team built “a federal government in miniature.”

Former Rep. Allen West (R-FL) told WMAL that he wouldn’t rule out a future primary challenge to Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL).

Said West: “That’s a pretty heavy lift, because you’re talking about running against a sitting senator, and then, of course, that creates that schism that the other side would love to see happen… We’ll see what happens down the pike, God will set my feet down the right path.”

Outgoing Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa (D) told KPCC-FM that he’s planning to run for California governor.

Said Villaraigosa: “You mentioned governor. Look, I believe in public service. I want to run for governor. In fact, I fully expect that I will. I’m going to tell you something, I will never have a job like this. This city has given me more than I could have ever hoped for.”

John Sides: “First, it matters for the 2014 election. A simple model of House election outcomes constructed by political scientist Gary Jacobson shows that the share of seats controlled by the president’s party depends in part on presidential approval…. Obviously, other factors matter too. But a less popular president certainly provides headwinds for Democratic candidates.”

“Second, it matters for the 2016 election. Of course, that’s a long way away, and a lot can happen between now and then. But again, simple forecasting models show that, controlling for other factors, the incumbent party does better when the incumbent president is popular.”

“Third, it matters for whether the President gets what he wants from Congress–with some caveats.”

A new Quinnipiac poll in Connecticut finds Gov. Dannel Malloy (D) beginning his reelection campaign as a slight underdog against Tom Foley (R), the man he beat three years ago.

Foley edges Malloy by three points, 43% to 40%.

A new Rasmussen survey in New Jersey finds Cory Booker (D) running way ahead of Steve Lonegan (R) in a potential special U.S. Senate election match up, 50% to 33%.

Alaska Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell (R) formally announced that he will challenge Sen. Mark Begich (D) next year, Roll Call reports.

“His candidacy, which has been expected for some time, gives Republicans a top-tier opponent in one of the party’s best pickup opportunities in the country.”