Party members on Wednesday heartily welcomed Ted Yoho, a large-animal veterinarian from central Florida, who scored a stunning Republican primary victory over a trio of seasoned politicos including sitting U.S. Rep. Cliff Stearns.
Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam called Yoho -- favored to retain the district for the GOP in November -- a courageous candidate for taking on the establishment and winning.
He worked tirelessly day and night in an insurgent campaign and did all the things that you know are successful in any campaign, motiving people, going door to door and having a persuasive message, said Putnam, who asked party members to provide support for Yoho during the Fresh From Florida breakfast for the Florida convention delegates at the Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club.
Yoho, endorsed by tea party groups throughout the rural north-central Florida district, said the key remains his message that Washington stands in the way of job creation, summed up through the phrase Ive had enough.
Ive had enough of the career politicians whove created this problem, fail to take responsibility for it, yet insist theyre the only ones who can get us out of it, said Yoho, who has been endorsed by former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin.
Yoho downplayed any tea party label, while calling for increased national security to halt the influx of illegal immigration and reducing regulations to spur job growth.
What we feel that Washington has done is create a climate of confusion, where we should be creating an environment of certainty in this country."
One thing is certain he wants to do is repeal, defund and bury Obamacare.
Second would be to make the tax codes more simple.
Putnam noted that congressional candidate Adam Hasner was also slated to speak at the breakfast but remained in West Palm Beach, where he is embroiled in a tough campaign and which is just getting out from under the impacts of now-Hurricane Isaac.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
