As he continues his bid for the Republican nomination to challenge incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson, U.S. Rep. Connie Mack is turning to prominent supporters to introduce him to Florida voters -- while his chief GOP primary rival, former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, attempts to characterize him in a new attack ad.
Mack turned to former presidential candidate U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann, R-Minn., on Tuesday to reach out to conservatives in the Sunshine State. Bachmann announced last week that she was backing Mack in the Senate race.
America needs Connie Mack in the U.S. Senate, Bachmann wrote in an email sent out to supporters on Tusday. Connie Mack has proven time and again he is one of the strongest fighters for our freedom and conservative values in Washington. He has proudly served Florida's 14th district, and has been a strong beacon of conservative strength for Florida.
Connie has been a steadfast fighter for freedom, less government and a fiscal hawk together with me in the United States Congress, Bachmann continued. For every good proposal passed out of the House, the liberal Senate under Harry Reid and Bill Nelson has stopped it, including Connie's recent proposal to build the Keystone XL Pipeline without presidential approval. Senators like Marco Rubio and Rand Paul need other like-minded conservatives in the Senate to stop the liberals from tearing down our nation. Simply put, Washington needs more fighters like Connie.
Mack also unveiled the endorsement of Bill McCollum, a former congressman and Florida attorney general, on Monday. McCollum was the Republican nominee who challenged Nelson in 2000 but he went down to defeat in the general election. McCollum also sought the Republican nomination in the U.S. Senate race in 2004 and lost out to Rick Scott in the 2010 Republican gubernatorial primary. Since then, McCollum has remained politically active, backing the presidential candidacy of former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich.
At a media event in Orlando on Monday, McCollum praised Mack as a tireless conservative leader for the people of Florida and the country and endorsed the congressman.
"To turn this country around, cut taxes, restore economic growth, replace Obamacare and maintain a strong national defense, it is absolutely essential that Barrack Obama be defeated in November, but that alone is not enough," McCollum said. We must elect a Republican majority to the U.S. Senate and keep the House majority. To assure Republicans win a Senate majority, Connie Mack must be elected Florida's next United States senator.
Mack praised McCollum for launching a constitutional challenge to the federal health-care law President Barack Obama signed in 2010.
"I am truly honored to have earned the support of Bill McCollum, Mack said. He has been a conservative champion for the people of our state, and we owe him a debt of gratitude for his many accomplishments including his leadership in filing the 26-state lawsuit now before the U.S. Supreme Court challenging the constitutionality of Obamacare. I look forward to his help in this campaign and his advice and counsel for many years to come.
While Bachmann and McCollum looked to showcase Macks conservative credentials this week, the LeMieux team launched a new attack ad insisting that the congressman was based out-of-state -- namely California, the home base of his wife, U.S. Rep. Mary Bono Mack.
How effectively can you represent your constituents in Congress when you spend your time gallivanting around the country? demanded LeMieuxs campaign manager Brian Seitchik on Monday. Mack the Fourth is known for leading a celebrity lifestyle and now he wants to represent Florida in the upper chamber.Since Mack offered, on multiple occasions, the specific number of days he spent in California last year, he should be able to do the same for Florida. Mack owes it to the citizens to share his calendar and ask the Committee on House Administration to release his travel vouchers --a simple request.
Also on Tuesday, Florida state Sen. Ellyn Bogdanoff, R-Ft. Lauderdale, announced that she was backing LeMieux.
It is an honor to receive the endorsement of my friend, Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff, said LeMieux in a statement on Tuesday. Ellyn has represented Broward County in Tallahassee for years and is a bold leader who stands up for what she believes in. I am excited to work with her to get America back on track.
After nearly 20 years of friendship, today I am excited to endorse George LeMieux in his bid for US Senate, Bogdanoff said. George LeMieux is a proven, principled leader who has a record of putting forth common sense solutions to solve our nation's problems. Being a native Floridian like myself, I know that George will always put the values of Floridians first. George will bring valuable, private sector experience to the Senate along with his get it done attitude, making him the most qualified candidate in this election.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
