Dennis Baxley Backs George LeMieux, Attacks Connie Mack

One of the leading conservatives in the Florida Legislature -- Rep. Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala -- announced on Wednesday that he was backing former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux for the Republican nomination to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November.

Baxley, who led the Christian Coalition of Florida and represents parts of Marion County, stressed LeMieuxs conservative credentials in his endorsement and played up the fact that former presidential candidate Herman Cain announced on Friday that he was backing LeMieux.

Today I am proud to join Herman Cain and 31 other state legislators and endorse George LeMieux for U.S. Senate, said Baxley, who served as speaker pro tempore when Marco Rubio was speaker of the Florida House. George is a faithful husband and father, and has a solid pro-life, pro-family, pro-free enterprise, pro-Second Amendment voting record. He is the most competent candidate we have to beat Bill Nelson.

Baxley directed heavy fire to LeMieuxs chief rival for the Republican nomination -- U.S. Rep. Connie Mack whose father held the Senate seat for 12 years.

Connie Mack IV is not his father, insisted Baxley. Mack has an abysmal personal financial legacy; attacked Arizona for addressing its illegal immigration problems; and supports embryonic stem-cell research. I served with Connie in the Florida House and love him dearly, but he has performed poorly and is not ready to lead. Nelson will tear Mack apart if he is the Republican nominee. George LeMieux is the only candidate who can defeat Nelson and we must stand with George to take back the Senate in November.