Adam Hasner Backs Ron Johnson in Leadership Contest

Next week, Republicans in the Senate will be in for an interesting leadership fight as two senators elected for the first time in 2010 -- Roy Blunt of Missouri and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin -- duke it out to see who becomes vice chairman of the Senate Republican Conference. The contest certainly has ideological ramifications -- Johnson is a favorite of the tea party movement while Blunt, a veteran of the U.S. House, is considered more a favorite of the establishment.

Former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, who is in a crowded Republican primary looking to challenge Democrat U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012, came out squarely behind Johnson on Friday.

"There are critical Senate Republican leadership elections upcoming that will send a message about the kind of limited-government leadership we need in the United States Senate and I encourage all principled conservatives to join me in supporting Senator Ron Johnson for vice chair of the Republican Conference," Hasner said in a statement. Senator Johnson was part of the first wave of conservative leadership elected in 2010 and it's vital that we continue this trend in Washington and around the country.

"We can't expect to change Washington if we keep electing the same establishment politicians that helped to create this mess in the first place, Hasner added. Whether it's the leadership elections in Washington or this Senate race in Florida, it's not about electing just any Republican; it's about electing the right Republican."