Florida Democrats set up a confrontation with their national party that could have the greatest impact so far in the presidential nominating schedule.

Yesterday the state party unanimously voted for a Jan. 29 primary that violates DNC rules barring primaries before Feb. 5, reports the St. Petersburg Times' Adam Smith. The decision "means Democrats in America's biggest swing state stand to lose delegates to the national convention, and presidential candidates who campaign in Florida will win no delegates toward the nomination under DNC rules." There may be a nonbinding Democratic straw vote in October. Still, the move to Jan. 29 (made also by Florida Republicans facing lighter penalties from the RNC) has made South Carolina and Michigan look seriously at moving their primaries up and Iowa and New Hampshire move theirs even earlier.

A new Zogby Poll found that 60 percent of registered voters "agreed that immigration revisions should include a path to citizenship for most illegal immigrants who have no criminal record, pay a $5,000 fine and wait their turn behind legal immigrants to apply for permanent U.S. residency," reports the Miami Herald's Alfonso Chardy. Zogby himself said one of the surprising results was support for legalization among a majority of black voters as some black leaders have voiced concern that illegal immigration might harm blacks.

Democrats are also optimistic about their efforts to woo Hispanic voters in Florida, specifically Cuban-Americans who Sen. Bill Nelson thinks will shift away from Republicans after Fidel Castro dies. Outreach ideas include increased use of absentee ballots, a "strategy long dominated by the Republicans" and using Spanish for those who are eligible to vote but don't speak English.

In New Hampshire, the Detroit News' Gordon Trowbridge profiles John Edwards' campaign manager David Bonior, a former U.S. Representative from Michigan. Bonior has "hardened pro-union beliefs," which he demonstrated by refusing to use an audio system installed by non-union workers at a campaign event and opted for a bullhorn instead. Bonior hasn't had national campaign experience, a rarity for presidential campaign managers.

Meanwhile, Bloomberg's Rich Miller reports that an economic policy debate is stewing between former Clinton Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin and donor and business executive Bernard Schwarz. Schwarz wants Democrats to spend more on infrastructure, "challenging a central tenet of Rubinomics: that eliminating the deficit should be the No. 1 goal of budget policy." Schwarz's impact is being felt in Hillary Clinton's campaign now that she's unveiled an "innovation agenda" that includes spending for broadband Internet access. Schwarz has backed the Clintons since 1991.

On the Republican side, the frontrunners are "taking the first steps in building campaigns for Nevada's new early caucus," reports the Las Vegas Sun's Michael Mishak. John McCain, Mitt Romney and Rudy Giuliani have quietly hired consultants in the state. Some think Republicans won't ignore the caucus because of the press attention given to the Democratic caucus to be held on the same day, Jan. 19.

Next door in Utah, some Mormons are approaching Romney's campaign with excitement over one of their own running for president and trepidation that the candidacy will bring scrutiny to their faith, reports the New York Times' Laurie Goodstein.

Meanwhile, Fred Thompson is heading to California this week to address the Hoover Institute and then Jay Leno's audience tomorrow.

Finally, Newt Gingrich is catching some heat for promoting health care policy changes that "closely track the financial interests of companies that underwrite a think tank he founded," the AP's Libby Quaid reports. Gingrich rarely mentions that his think tank receives up to $200,000 in contributions from drug makers and insurers annually. Gingrich declined to be interview but the Center for Health Transformation's CEO said companies give money because of his views, not the other way around.

Get these and today's other elections stories at RCP's Politics and Elections page.