Ron Rushing Leaves U.S. Senate Race to Primary Andy Gardiner

Software company owner Ron Rushing will announce on Tuesday that he is pulling out of the Republican primary to take on Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and will instead offer a primary challenge to Senate Majority Leader Andy Gardiner, R-Orlando, in 2012.

Gardiner currently represents parts of Orange, Osceola and Seminole counties, though this could change with redistricting which starts in early 2012.

Look for Rushing to run to Gardiners right. During his brief U.S. Senate bid, Rushing, who is from Windermere, backed the "Contract From America." It pledges that a candidate will back smaller government, repeal the federal health-care law, and lower taxes. The contract is being pushed by FreedomWorks and former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey. Myriad conservative candidates backed the contract in the 2010 cycle, including Mike Lee, Jim DeMint, Tom Coburn and Sharon Angle.

Rushing also backed the Fair Tax, gutting the EPA, reducing regulations on business, pushing to end foreign aid, slashing federal spending across the board by 5 percent, using the armed forces to secure America from illegal immigration, and repealing the federal health-care law backed by President Barack Obama.

Rushing, owner of Channel Parrity Inc., is originally from Fernandina Beach. He has insisted that his background in business will help him deal with the sluggish economy. He has also played up the fact that he is not a career politician and he promised to turn down benefits and push for term limits in Congress.