Though it is more than a year in the future, the Republican primary to challenge Democrat Bill Nelson for his U.S. Senate seat in 2012 heated up Thursday when three of the leading candidates exchanged shots over the federal budget proposal backed by Wisconsin Congressman Paul Ryan.
With Republican candidate Mike Haridopolos in trouble with conservatives over his mixed messages on whether he supports the Ryan budget, the team behind primary rival Adam Hasner continued to pound away Thursday -- and added a shot at former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux to boot.
"It took Senator Mike Haridopolos and Senator George LeMieux more than a week to give a straight answer about the only plan in Washington that would cut spending, reform entitlements and save Medicare," said Rick Wilson, a campaign adviser and spokesman for Hasner.
"That's not leadership; it's the typical finger-in-the-wind politics that define Washington today. What's worse, after being pushed around by the media, Senator Haridopolos chose to side with Bill Nelson and Barack Obama to undercut conservatives on the Ryan Plan and defend the status quo in Washington. Adam Hasner is the only Republican who can be trusted to stand fearlessly for conservative principles, no matter how challenging the issues."
The Hasner team also pointed to a radio interview Haridopolos did Tuesday on the Ray Junior show, where the Senate president did not offer a clear answer to whether he would back the Ryan plan -- prompting the host to hang up on him.
Hasners camp sent out an e-mail to supporters Thursday afternoon with a video replaying the interview.
Senator Mike Haridopolos went on a Florida radio show yesterday, and refused to answer whether he would have voted for or against the Ryan Budget Plan ... 10 times. So the show's host hung up on him, wrote the Hasner team. This is an important election. Republicans need to know where their candidates stand on the critical issues facing our country. Adam Hasner is standing firm on the conservative principles of our party to cut spending, reform entitlements, save Medicare and save our country from a diminished future. Mike Haridopolos is standing with Senator Bill Nelson to defend the status quo in Washington.Hang up on Haridopolos and stand with Adam, the only Republican we can count on to stand up for our conservative values.
LeMieux made a point to express his support of the Ryan plan and to book an appearance on the Junior show on Thursday afternoon.
Although I prefer my 2007 solution that would bring us to balance in two years, if I was in the Senate I would have voted for the Ryan plan as opposed to doing nothing and letting Medicare fail, noted LeMieux. We're not going to save this country from financial disaster unless people start entertaining serious proposals.
Haridopolos fired back with comments of his own, stressing his conservative record.
"I am running for Senate on my conservative record of fighting government spending, eliminating job-killing red tape, cutting taxes, reforming entitlement spending and balancing a budget without new fees or taxes," noted Haridopolos. "Anyone can talk the talk, but I will walk the walk."
The Haridopolos camp highlighted a video released earlier in the week stressing their candidates conservative record.
Other Republican candidates include businessman and retired Army officer Mike McCalister, who took more than 10 percent in the 2010 gubernatorial primary, and businessman and former congressional candidate Ron McNeil. Other Republicans -- including U.S. Rep. Vern Buchanan, former Ruth's Chris CEO Craig Miller and businessman Nick Loeb -- are considering entering the race.
Also on Thursday, Hasner named the financial leadership team for his campaign.
Hasner tapped former Ambassador Mel Sembler to serve as his honorary finance chairman.
"Adam Hasner is the only Republican who can stand firm on the principles of our party and defeat Bill Nelson come next November," said Sembler. "Adam is someone who has made Florida proud; he's a tireless fighter for the common-sense principles that will grow our economy and keep America safe, and he is someone that all Republicans should support with enthusiasm."
The chairman of the board of the Sembler Company, Sembler was ambassador to Australia and the Pacific island of Nauru under George H. W. Bush and served as ambassador to Italy under George W. Bush. Sembler also served on the Republican National Committee (RNC) representing Florida, and serving as finance chairman of the RNC from 1997 until 2000.
The Hasner team also announced that Jay Demetree will be its finance committee chairman.
"America needs conservative leaders who will stand up to Democrats and Republicans in Washington to get our country back on track and return our government to its constitutional principles," said Demetree. "As a businessman, I know that Adam is the only person in this race who can be trusted to stand firm on limited government principles and take the tough stands to turn our country around.Demetree, president and CEO of Demetree Brothers Inc. and manager of investment firm Pentagon Properties, held a similar position in Marco Rubios bid for the U.S. Senate back in 2010.
"I'm honored and humbled to have the support of Republican leaders like Ambassador Sembler and Jay Demetree," said Hasner, a former state House majority leader. "With their support, we'll be able to inspire more people to our movement and have the resources necessary to spread our positive message of limited government and expanded freedoms."
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
