Mike McCalister Celebrates Strong Showing in CPAC Straw Poll

Businessman and retired Army officer Mike McCalister is celebrating his strong second-place showing in a straw poll of the Republican candidates looking to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2012. McCalister garnered 30 percent in the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) event in Orlando on Friday -- right behind former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner who won with 34 percent.

Thanks to our volunteer army today, McCalister wrote supporters on Friday night. We took second against all odds with (an) all-volunteer team.