Supporters of two of the leading Republican candidates looking to challenge Sen. Bill Nelson in November insisted on Tuesday that the race has national implications, as the GOP looks to wrest control of the Senate.
Despite former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon jumping into the race last week and the continuing efforts of former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, the Republican establishment keeps showing signs of coalescing behind U.S. Rep. Connie Macks bid to challenge Nelson. Last week, Mitt Romney and U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross announced they were backing Mack -- and they're now joined by Gov. Luis Fortu of Puerto Rico who endorsed Mack on Tuesday.
The governor from Puerto Rico has won attention from conservatives at the national level for his record in San Juan and there even have been a handful of right-of-center figures who said they would support a Fortu bid for national office.
Fortu served in the U.S. House with Mack, something he referred to in his endorsement of the Florida congressman.
"Connie and I entered the Congress on the same day and I admired how he fought for freedom -- every American's constitutional freedom, Fortu said. Connie always used to tell me, 'Freedom is the core of all human progress,' and from his fights against tyrants like Hugo Chavez to the advent of his Penny Plan, Connie Mack has always been an incredible champion of freedom and prosperity.
Fortu looked to play up Macks conservative credentials on Tuesday.
All conservatives know, and all Americans know, that we must stop Washington's endless appetite for the people's money and its constant desire to do more and control more, Fortu said. Electing Connie Mack to the U.S. Senate and defeating liberal Senator Bill Nelson will help make sure conservatives have another champion for freedom in the Senate, and that Harry Reid, President Obama, and Washington's other Lockstep Liberals can't inflict any more damage on the nation.
Mack for his part praised the Puerto Rican governor.
"Governor Fortu has demonstrated that conservative principles solve problems and create prosperity and I am honored to have his support today, Mack said. Governor Fortu has tackled a record $3.2 billion deficit in Puerto Rico, cutting expenses across the board, instituted salary reductions of 30 percent for himself, department heads and political appointments while cutting taxes. Having his endorsement of my candidacy means so much coming from such a principled leader and I thank him for his friendship and support."
But while Fortu insisted that Mack could beat Nelson, LeMieuxs team insisted that the congressman would only lose to the Democrat incumbent -- and keep Sen. Harry Reid, D-Nev., as Senate majority leader.
Pointing to a report from the Sunlight Foundation covered in The Hill, which insisted that Mack spoke at the lowest level when compared to other members of Congress, the team behind LeMieux came out swinging at their Republican primary rivalon Tuesday.
The Hill newspaper reported yesterday that Connie Mack the Fourth ranked dead last in quality of speech. Last place is nothing new for the prodigal son, insisted Anna Nix, a spokeswoman for LeMieux, on Tuesday.This year alone, Mack earned the worst attendance record in the House of Representatives and has come in dead last in three Senate primary straw polls, including the Florida Federation of Republican Women and statewide tea party leaders. If Florida Republicans nominate Connie Mack the Fourth, he will surely come in last to Bill Nelson in November, solidifying Harry Reids role as majority leader.
The Mack camp fired back at LeMieux.
"Every public poll taken for the entire year George LeMieux has been in the race has George LeMeiux losing to Bill Nelson which is why local and national movement conservatives are overwhelmingly backing Connie Mack, said David James, a spokesman for Mack. LeMeiux's character baggage from legal problems with his appointment by Charlie Crist, his business dealing with Jim Greer, his orchestration of the attacks on Marco Rubio in 20120, and his questionable uses of the Gunster Law firm to facilitate his campaign make everything George LeMieux touches a liability."
Besides LeMieux, Mack and Weldon, retired Army officer and businessman Mike McCalister, who took more than 10 percent when he ran in the Republican gubernatorial primary in 2010, is also running in the primary to challenge Nelson.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
