Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson qualified today to run in a Democratic primary against incumbent U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd.

Lawson, a Tallahassee insurance agent, is term-limited out of office next year after serving 28 years in the legislature.

He’s an underdog in the race against 13-year Congressional veteran Boyd, one of the conservative “Blue Dog” Democrats.

Lawson made it onto the ballot by collecting the requisite 5,000 signatures to avoid having to pay the state fee.

Health Care for America Now, the liberal activist group affiliated with ACORN and several labor unions, announced a round of television ads today thanking 13 of the 219 Democrats who supported the health care reform bill that passed the U.S. House last night.

In Florida, that means free publicity for Suzanne Kosmas of New Smyrna Beach and Allen Boyd of Monticello, both
facing tough re-election campaigns this year. The two changed positions after citing a government report showing the plan would cut the deficit by $1.2 trillion over 10 years.

Other fallout in Florida today:

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U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd, a Panhandle Democrat, and his wife Sissy have separated after nearly four decades of marriage, according to news reports.

The separation takes place as Boyd, a former state legislator who has served for 12 years in Congress, is campaigning for reelection against Senate Democratic Leader Al Lawson.

Boyd, a Monticello farmer, is a member of the “Blue Dog” coalition, a group of conservative Democrats.