As they head into the final stretch of their tight Republican primary battle for a Central Florida congressional seat, U.S. Rep. John Mica and U.S. Rep. Sandy Adams unveiled major endorsements from prominent conservatives this week.
Former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, best known for his bid for the Republican presidential nomination in 2008 and his national radio and television shows, threw his support to Mica, who has been in Congress for the better part of two decades, late on Wednesday.
John Mica is a proven leader who doesnt just talk; he achieves sound conservative results," Huckabee insisted. Congressman Mica's 100 percent pro-life, pro-family, and pro-Second Amendment record is one I commend and salute! Hes voted against every bailout and Obama stimulus plan and is an original co-sponsor of the Fair Tax. He joins me in sheer determination to repeal Obamacare. If conservatives want a man of action and a man we can count on, I urge my fellow Floridians in Central Florida to join me in supporting John Mica.
The Mica camp quickly trumpeted the endorsement from Huckabee, who had endorsed Karen Diebel over Adams in a primary back in 2010, sending out messages to supporters announcing it.
As governor, Mike Huckabee always fought for our timeless conservative values and for fiscal discipline, Mica wrote in an email to supporters on Wednesday. He was a leader on transportation issues, ensuring efficient and good government. Today, he articulates these bold principles to millions on TV, on the radio, and by supporting conservatives for public office. I am honored to receive Governor Huckabee's endorsement in this race.
But Adams unveiled two conservative endorsements of her own, including the backing of fellow freshman U.S. Rep. Allen West, R-Fla., on Thursday.
West insisted that Adams, a veteran of the Florida House of Representatives, was a political outsider helping him change the course in Washington.
Two years ago, the citizens of Florida called for a change in the way things were going in our nations capital, West said on Thursday. Sandy Adams and I went to the United States House of Representatives to work to get our republic back on track. We quickly learned the problems were deeper and there were some entrenched careerist politicians who supported the status quo.
These last two years, Sandy has been fighting to change the ways of Washington, added West. She is a patriot with regard to preserving and protecting our nation and our Constitution. I fully endorse Sandy Adams' candidacy for the 7th Congressional District because she represents a new generation of Republican conservatives who have come to the halls of Congress to find solutions and is working tirelessly against some on Capitol Hill who would rather perpetuate the problems.
Adams used Wests endorsement to slam Mica.
There is no doubt about it, Washington, D.C., is broken, Adams said. Sadly, even Republicans like John Mica are part of the problem. In 2010, Central Floridians sent me to Congress with patriots like Allen West with a mandate to stop the overspending in Washington. I am proud to say that we have made significant progress in our fight. No longer is the status quo acceptable. The entrenched Republicans and Democrats in Congress who have led us to our nearly $16 trillion debt will be held responsible.
I am honored to receive Allen Wests endorsement today, Adams added. Not only is he an American hero, but we share the same passion for preserving and protecting our nations Constitution and upholding the principles our great nation was founded upon. I have kept my promises to the Central Floridians who have given me the honor to represent them, and my fight to change the way Washington works is not finished.
Late Wednesday, Adams announced that she had won the support of conservative PAC Government is Not God (GINGPAC). In their endorsement, GINGPAC insisted that Adams is strong on a host of issues.
She is an aggressive social conservative who will fight for the free-enterprise system, a strong national security and will be tough on criminals, GINGPAC noted in a statement.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
