The Florida Republicans looking to take Marco Rubio’s place in the United States Senate continue to showcase their conservative credentials as they maneuver for position. Rubio is running for the Republican presidential nomination and has said he will not run for a second term in 2016.
While Donald Trump’s rescinded invitation and the various GOP presidential candidates garnered most of the headlines over the weekend, U.S. Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., spoke at Red State’s event in Atlanta. Erick Erickson, the founder of Red State, is behind DeSantis’ Senate bid.
In his remarks, DeSantis went on the attack against the Democrats, calling out U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Fla., chairwoman of the Democratic National Committee (DNC).
"I think that the Democrats, really have no interest at all in being good stewards of our American Constitution and our founding principles," DeSantis said. “Heck, you even have Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who can’t explain the difference between a Democrat and a socialist!”
DeSantis also turned his fire toward the IRS, but he also noted Republican presidents have made mistakes in naming justices to the Supreme Court.
"I think it’s going to be very, very important if we do elect a new Republican president that we don’t make any more mistakes in nominating justices to the U.S. Supreme Court,” DeSantis said. “And I can tell you that I will be there with people like Mike Lee making sure we don’t have another David Souter and another Chief Justice John Roberts.”
DeSantis also offered a grim warning as he called for returning the federal government’s role to what the Founding Fathers intended. “I think we have very little time to save the country,” DeSantis said.
But DeSantis is not the only Republican Senate hopeful looking to appeal to conservatives. Last week U.S. Rep. David Jolly, R-Fla., like DeSantis a critic of President Barack Obama’s deal with Iran on its nuclear program, showcased his role on that issue.
“Let’s reject the false choice the president continues to present regarding Iran. We can avoid war without arming our enemies and ensure security without weakening ourselves,” Jolly insisted on Thursday.
Jolly also highlighted his proposal to end taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood.
“I’ve introduced legislation to defund Planned Parenthood while continuing to provide for non-abortion women's health services through community health centers,” Jolly noted last week. “Planned Parenthood's disgusting practices have been exposed, and they absolutely must be held accountable for their actions.”
Jolly also reeled in a major endorsement on Monday as U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Fla., part of the House leadership as deputy majority whip, announced he was behind him.
“David Jolly is a principled and thoughtful conservative and a passionate advocate for veterans and businesses across Pinellas County and the Tampa Bay region,” Ross said on Monday. “Since being elected, David has proven to be an effective representative and I am confident he will bring the same energy as the next U.S. senator from the state of Florida.”
“I am grateful for the support of Congressman Ross in my campaign for the U.S. Senate, as it is an honor to work alongside conservative champions like Dennis,” Jolly said. “Congressman Ross and I share a commitment to advancing conservative principles while restoring a sense of responsibility back to Washington. It’s the conviction with which we each serve in the House and the conviction I intend to take to the U.S. Senate.”
“I am running on my proven record as an effective conservative who is committed to delivering results, and I hope that the people of Florida will allow me to continue to serve them by representing our state in the U.S. Senate,” Jolly added.
Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera also noted his opposition to the Iran deal, jabbing Sen. Bill Nelson for supporting it.
“This deal is dangerous for the U.S. and Israel,” Lopez-Cantera insisted, noting he was “shocked” that Nelson was supporting it.
Lopez-Cantera did give a shout out to U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch, D-Fla., the ranking Democrat on the U.S. House Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee who is against Obama’s agreement with Iran.
“Not all issues are about right vs. left,” Lopez-Cantera noted before praising Deutch “for opposing Iran deal and recognizing that it's about right vs. wrong."
Lopez-Cantera also tried to rally support in his South Florida base, meeting with GOP activists on Thursday night as he watched the presidential debate at a Miami-Dade Republican event.
Businessman and veteran Todd Wilcox also tried to rally conservatives behind his Senate campaign with a swing through Northeast Florida last week, including an event at the First Coast Manufacturers Association on Wednesday.
Wilcox made the case for why manufacturing needs to be a greater part of the Sunshine State’s economy.
“Nearly 350,000 Floridians are employed in manufacturing-related jobs and the average manufacturing pay is 30 to 75 percent higher than the median pay scale in Florida,” Wilcox noted. “Boosting the manufacturing sector in Florida is a great way to diversify our economy from an overdependence on tourism.
“The primary components of the price of all goods in the U.S. are made up of three basic elements: materials, labor, and energy,” Wilcox added. “What the Obama administration fails to understand is that increased energy cost that would result from the recently proposed 35 percent cut in greenhouse gases will lead to increase costs for almost all domestic manufacturing and production.”
Wilcox looked to stress that he was a political outsider, unlike his primary foes.
“The political ruling class doesn't get it because too few of them have ever worked in the private sector, made payroll or started a business,” Wilcox insisted. “It is time to restore America's prominence and the career politicians have proven they are not capable of leading our nation.”
Wilcox also spoke at the South Clay County Republican Club in Green Cove Springs last week as he tried to build support in the region.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
