Adam Hasner's Senate Ambitions Get Some National Conservative Attention

While most eyes focused on the 2012 U.S. Senate race in Florida were focused on Tuesday on the announcement from former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux that he was entering the race, his fellow Republican candidate, former House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, garnered some national conservative attention. In the venerable conservative publication Human Events, John Gizzi labeled Hasner a maverick and drew a sharp contrast between the former House leaders record and those of the other leading GOP hopefuls -- LeMieux and Senate President Mike Haridopolos:

Hasner doesnt compare or contrast himself to anyone, but cites his record in the state Legislature as a leader on conservative causes and issues. From fighting to eliminate the states property taxes to toughening Floridas pro-life legislation, it was Florida House of Representatives Majority Leader Hasner -- working with close ally and then-Speaker Rubio -- who was the leading force in Tallahassee behind the measures.

In contrast, Haridopolos has served in the state Senate, wheremany of the conservative items sent over from the house of representatives have died.The 41-year-old LeMieux was campaign manager, top aide, and chief adviser to the centrist former Republican governor Charlie Crist, who bolted the GOP to run for the Senate last year and lost to Rubio.Crist -- Judas Crist to Republican activists -- gave the vacant U.S. Senate appointment to LeMieux, whose role with the governor has been likened to that of Karl Rove to George W. Bush.

Both Haridopolos and LeMieux backed Crist for the Senate when he was still a Republican, while Hasner was one of the first elected officials to endorse Rubio.To no ones surprise, both Haridopolos and LeMieux dub themselves conservative in this Senate race.