Floridas leading Republican families are starting to take sides in the primary race to determine who will challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November -- as scions of the Bush and Rooney dynasties backed different candidates on Friday.
At a media event in Coral Gables on Friday, Republican Senate hopeful Congressman Connie Mack, whose father held the Senate seat that Nelson currently holds, won the endorsement of Jeb Bush Jr.
"I am delighted to have the support of Jeb Bush Jr. as my new statewide co-chairman for our campaign for U.S. Senate, Mack said on Friday. Jeb has proven himself as a leader amongst this region's young professionals when it comes to the issues important to South Florida, and his advice and counsel to this campaign will be important in our efforts to expose the liberal voting record of Bill Nelson, a record which is in 98 percent lockstep with Barack Obama."
Bush, the son of the former governor who has been working on reaching out to Hispanic voters on behalf of the Republicans, pointed to Macks record as chairman of the U.S. House Western Hemisphere Subcommittee.
"Connie has a career of doing the right thing, said Bush, who had been very active with the presidential campaign of former Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman. It was the right thing to stand up to Hugo Chavez and promote freedom in Latin America. It was the right thing to stand up to his own leadership to not raise the debt ceiling. It was the right thing to do to secure the border while preserving the rights of all Americans. And it was the right thing to do when he decided to enter the Senate race against liberal Bill Nelson when it was so clear no one else could defeat him. Today I proudly stand with Connie Mack and will work hard with him to advance the freedom of Floridians against the lockstep liberal agenda of Bill Nelson and Barack Obama."
But Macks chief rival for the GOP nomination -- former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux -- also unveiled the support of a member of a prominent Republican family on Friday.
Florida state Rep. Pat Rooney, R-Palm Beach Gardens, announced on Friday that he is backing LeMieux for the Republican nomination. Rooney -- whose family is best known for owning the Pittsburgh Steelers -- is the brother of U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney who serves in Congress with Mack.
"I am honored to have the endorsement of state Representative Pat Rooney. Representative Rooney is a proven leader in both business and public service," said LeMieux in a statement. "His endorsement adds to the growing momentum of our campaign to defeat Bill Nelson and save America from career politicians."
George has shown his commitment to undo the unnecessary regulations facing small business and industries created by the Obama administration, said Rooney, who represents parts of Palm Beach County. He understands the need to create an environment that allows for growth and expansion to get our economy headed in the right direction. His prior experience in the Senate, battling the Democrats, has made him the best candidate to take on Senator Nelson and his continual support of the failed Obama agenda.
As a family man, he knows the challenges we face to ensure our children grow up and have the tools to be successful in this great country, Rooney added. He also understands the need to ensure our elderly and more vulnerable populations are properly taken care of. This compassion, along with his fiscal conservative outlook, is the type of leadership we desperately need in Washington, D.C., fighting for us.
With two candidates -- former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner and businessman Craig Miller -- pulling out of the Republican primary to run for Congress in recent days, the race has grown less crowded, though retired Army officer and businessman Mike McCalister, who pulled more than 10 percent in the 2010 Republican gubernatorial primary, remains in the contest.
LeMieux noted the changed field in an email sent out to supporters on Friday.
The U.S. Senate race is now in clearer focus with the conclusion of the Florida presidential primary and two of our former competitors announcing this week that they have chosen to run for the U.S. House, LeMieux wrote. In 2012, regaining control of the Senate and defeating Harry Reid's agenda is equally as important as winning the presidency if we are going to repeal Obamacare, balance the budget and secure the border. I remain committed to retiring Bill Nelson this November.
LeMieux also took aim at Macks record in Congress -- including his opposition to bringing an Arizona-style immigration law to Florida -- though he did not mention his rival by name.
As the only major Republican candidate who refused to raise the debt ceiling, fought for stricter enforcement of our laws against illegal immigration, and never requested an earmark, our campaign is well-positioned to win the Republican primary and ensure liberal Bill Nelson is replaced with a strong conservative, LeMieux said.
Mack, who is one of Mitt Romneys leading supporters in Florida and was active in that candidates big win in the Florida primary on Tuesday, unveiled his revamped website on Friday.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
