Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux on Wednesday ended his bid for the Republican nomination for Senate, throwing his support behind U.S. Rep. Connie Mack in what he called "the election of our lifetime."
LeMieux released a video on Wednesday in which he backed Mack against Democrat incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson, after noting that the GOP leadership was behind his opponent and that the congressman was taking part in debates with his Republican rivals. While LeMieux had been very critical of Mack, running attack ads and comparing the congressman to Charlie Sheen, he endorsed the congressman instead of the two other leading Republican hopefuls -- former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon and retired Army officer and businessman Mike McCalister.
The establishment has thrown their support behind my competitor, Connie Mack. Ahead of us in the polls, the Mack name enjoys widespread recognition that can only be matched with substantial advertising or the opportunity to debate on statewide television, LeMieux said in the video. Advertising, which our finances cannot support, and debates, which my competitor wont agree to. It is not my nature to step aside, but there is a reality to running a statewide race in Florida. Without the resources or the opportunity to debate, our message simply cannot be heard.
As a former party chairman, I know that sometimes for the good of the party, and the good of the nation, a candidate has to bow out gracefully. In order to have the best chance to defeat Bill Nelson and put the Senate in Republican hands, today we will end our campaign, continued LeMieux. To continue would only hurt our chances in the fall, and that is not something that I will risk. Connie Mack will be our nominee. He has my support.
LeMieux ended with a plea for Republican unity. 2012 is the more important election of our lifetime, he said. Please do everything you can to support our candidates.
Known in Florida political circles for working for Charlie Crist, eventually rising to becoming chief of staff when his ally served as governor, LeMieux entered the national stage in 2009 when Crist appointed him to the U.S. Senate. LeMieux served in the Senate for 16 months and won the praise of the GOP leadership for his efforts to lower the debt and deficit. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on the Senate floor that he could not think of an appointed senator who had been as effective as LeMieux. But conservatives hammered LeMieux for breaking with the GOP in 2010 to help President Barack Obamas Small Business Jobs Act pass.
When Crist left the GOP to run for the Senate with no party affiliation, LeMieux quickly backed Marco Rubio, the Republican candidate in the race. Despite this, Mack and other rivals continued to label LeMieux a Charlie Crist Republican.
Despite his time in the Senate, polls found that LeMieux remained unknown to most voters. While other Republicans left the Senate race -- state Senate President Mike Haridopolos, former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, and businessman Craig Miller --LeMieux continued to plug away as the likes of Mack and Weldon entered the race. He pushed a plan to restore federal spending to what it was in 2007 and attempted to contrast it with Mack's ideas of lowering federal spending.
But LeMieux, even with his attacks on Mack, remained in high single digits or low double digits in the polls -- far behind Mack who wrapped up the support of Republican leaders at the national and state levels, including Mitt Romney and Jeb Bush.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
