by Javier Manjarres
The 2012 U.S. Senate race in Florida is beginning to come into sharper focus in the wake of Congressman Connie Mack’s announcement last week which removed himself from consideration in the race. We’ve also learned that another potential ‘wild card” candidate, Nick Loeb, will not be running as well- a close source to Loeb has told the Shark Tank. The field as it now stands includes the already announced Mike Haridopolos and Mike McCalister as well as potential candidates George LeMieux and Former House Majority Leader Adam Hasner. While Hasner and LeMieux have yet to formally announce, both appear to be very close to making their candidacies official.
Who do you think is the strongest Republican candidate out there (announced or otherwise) that can defeat incumbent Senator Bill Nelson? Weigh in on the poll below, and tell us why you think they’re the best positioned to become Florida’s next Senator.
61 Responses to “Florida’s 2012 U.S. Senate Republican Primary- POLL”
Mike has a conservative record that will get even better if he actually balances the budget with no new taxes, plus the SmartCap, anti-Obamacare bill and actually fixing Medicaid, not destroying it like Obamacare is. I’ll put that up against Bill Nelson every day of the week.
Mike all the way. He’s done some great CONSERVATIVE things in the Senate after years of it being the place where conservative bills went to die. Anybody but Lemieux, obviously, but Mike’s my guy.
Mike McCalister is the grassroots candidate with vast experience in military matters, education and business. If you have ever heard him speak and go through the laundry list of challenges we face WITH proposed solutions and plans of action you will learn that he is the commonsence choice for Floridians. Marco Rubio in spite of his Tea Party support was and is a career politician. To balance Florida’s Senatorial representation I believe MIKE McCALISTER will be the best candidate to represent Floridians from the grassroots up.
I heard Lemieux was thinking of pulling a Connie because he has to many skeletons in his closet, is that true?
You know Obama would be thrilled to see a LeMiuex v. Nelson matchup. Either way he gets someone to hug at his Florida fundraisers!
Mike is a true conservative, and Lemiuex’s voting was consistantly left of moderate, and Moderate Republicans are Dumbocrat light. McCalister will, if he stays true, vote Conservative for the Republic and Freedom.
Hairdopolos seems like a guy who has it together. Speaks well, strong conservative, young guy, package deal. I could see him wiping the floor with Nelson if Bill will actually come out of the liberal closet and actually have a real debate.
GO HASNER!
http://www.facebook.com/hasner2012
Mike Haridopolos = Charlie Crist
Adam Hasner = Marco Rubio
Get the picture people.
Hey “Go Mike” or, should I say taxpayer-funded Haridopolos press secretary David Bishop…
Shouldn’t you be doing something other than scanning the blogs and posting inane comments during your work hours? I’m sure Craigslist gets boring after a while, but find something else to do during your work hours…no one cares about your Astroturfing for a Tallahassee insider Mike Haridopolos.
I don’t know Adam Hasner .. but will be attending a luncheon next month and he is the speaker so I will see. Last months speaker was LeMieux and although he said good things on fixing the economy I know his voting record and stance on illegals .. hoping we can do better. I really thought that Jeb Bush (since he has said he will not seek Presidency and don’t think America wants another “Bush” in the White House now) would run for Nelson’s seat. He could get national exposure and at the same time show he is his “own man” and not just W’s brother or Sr. son.
Sandman, you’re way off base there. Hairdopolos was raising money for Marco Rubio back when Charlie was still a Republican. The only Charlie Crist Republican running in this race is LeMeiux. Period.
I am disappointed in Rick so far as Governor. Jeb is my number 1. If I can’t have him, I have to be convinced by the potential candidate they are “THE ONE” before backing them. I hate being embarrassed by a Republican I voted for. SOMEONE needs to address the monetary costs for catering medically and educationally to the massive numbers of illegal imigrants and their illegal parents. Our two greatest drains of tax dollars are Health Care and Education. We provide Spanish texts and teachers for children who do not speak English in our public schools. I am a Nursean and my mother was a Teacher. We have seen first hand the excesses used on illegals that were taken from the backs of the working persons in Florida. I am a lifelong Florida resident, as are my Husband, our Siblings, our Son, and our Grandchildren.
New to politics but understanding the crisis in the country, Mike McCalister filed for the Florida Governor’s race just a day before the deadline last year. He never asked for donations or matching state funds. He did, however, blanket the state, non-stop, in the short time that he had; visiting Tea Parties, conservative groups, and any group that would listen. Amazingly, with no money or publicity, he garnered 10% of the vote in the primary. He is a true conservative and constitutionalist, an educator at the university level, experience in management, healthcare, the military (with top security clearance), and is a small business owner. He has also written a book about the right future for Florida. He has a BS in Science and a MBA and PhD in Management. I know this because he went through a vetting session with our Tea Party and received an A grade. Since then he has been involved in learning about the UN’s Agenda 21 and land grab of D.E.R.M. in the Miami-Dade area. He attended the Tri-County Tea Party’s event that hosted the New York Time’s bestselling author and ACT for America’s founder, Brigitte Gabriel, as she spoke on her new book, “They Must Be Stopped”. Please get to know Mike McCalister, and be sure to see him speak when you get the chance.
I like Mike….McCalister that is. He is not the establishment pick of course and the hit pieces are already out there. He is not the best “politician” but his campaign skills will improve on the trail.
Mike Haridopolos and LeMeiux will be the Party guys.
I like Allen West the most !!!
Governor Jeb Bush would be a slam dunk. He was the best Governor in Florida history. It would galvanize the Republican Party, especially Florida.
The new Senator could then steer the Republicans to victory in 2012, or he could accept a “MITT and JEB” ticket against Obama in 2012.
Ocala Patriot….thank you for your assessment of Mike McCalister…I will be watching and hope to see him around in this area.
Marco needs another good strong Conservative Republican in the Senate and get rid of that Nelson…
I’m happy that Connie is staying in the House…I like how he votes and we have to keep control of the House and get the Senate too.
Thanks again to all the above for your comments on Mike Mc….
Colonel McCalister is the only candidate I would trust. He is the only veteran in the race and he has also briefed the Congress on National Security issues. He also helped write the 21st Century War on Terror Doctrine now being ignored by Obama.
What do the other candidates know about being a US Senator ? ZERO. They have no clue. They can tell you how much they know about national defense but they are just reading a script. They are mostly a line up of RINO”s all gearing up for thier turn in the saddle preparing to ride us tax payers to death. Check out McCalister.
http://www.mikemccalisterforsenate.com
Adam Hasner 100% . We need a conservative and someone that can beat Nelson. Hasner is the only logical choice. McCallister might be a nice guy, but he is way over his head and needs to win something before going to the majors.
What about Allen West for Senate and then Adam Hasner runs for West’s House Seat?
I would stand solid behind Jeb Bush but he has chosen not to run. George LeMieux was a bit of an enigma while serving as an Interim Senator. Perhaps he felt the need to walk the middle of the road as he was not elected to the office.
Toward the end of his term I think we saw more of who he really is. His final votes against Illegal Amnesties for Criminal Aliens
gives me hope he can be the man we need to Replace Nelson.I only hope for a strong candidate who believes in our Constitution, limited and only legal immigration and fiscal responsibility.
I know I will help in a campaign to replace Nelson!
obamapotamus,
First off, everyone knew the political winds were behind Rubio even when he was 30 points behind Crist. It’s called being an opportunist. Aligning with Crist was like taking a political cruise on the titanic.
What counts is his voting record when he’s not in an eminent position to obtain higher office. I can still remember Hairodopolos standing behind then senate president Ken Pruitt on the stage smiling and nodding his head in agreement stating he would not allow Rubio’s property tax reform bill that passed the house to the senate floor for a vote. The Florida senate is full of RINOS. It’s real easy to come out and say your against Obama’s disastrous economic policies, especially when your not in a position to do anything about them.
Will I vote for him if he’s the nom against Nelson? Of course, but we can do better.
I’d support almost anybody other than LeMieux, which would
be like putting Rhino Crist in thru the back door! Haridapolos
has a good conservative record.
There are some good candidates, and it dismays me to see that Lemeux is in the lead, after he wobbles down the middle road at best. Please, google each of these candidates and listen to them to start to form your opinion before the race is upon us; I’m sure you won”t come up with George when you do choose if you learn about them all! This is a key job to add to FL contingent of West and Rubio to change the garbage in Washington that has been going on way too long. Thanks, I’m off to my Mandarin language class just in case.
LeMieux ? Really ? He voted FOR: FDA control of farming, (YOUR vegetable garden), and Financial “Reform” that ENSURES Too Big to Fail Banking and other large Corporations (GE) that play ball with Obama do not have to even “bother” with Congress to get Future Bailouts. He voted to make Congress Even More Irrelevant. Vote all you want, it doesn’t matter the Executive runs the government.
Really? EPA is implementing it’s Rules despite objections,laws, rulings, from Congress AND the Federal Courts that there is NO Authority for EPA’s “Cap & Tax” policies on carbon dioxide.
Love LeMieux, Love Big Government! http://www.libertynewsnetwork.tv/?p=351
Hasner. Another Republican insider. Career Politician. I don’t trust him.
Haridopolos. Another Republican insider. Career Politician, I don’t trust him.
LeMieux. RINO Charlie Crist puppet boy.
Connie Mack. Ciao. Don’t let the door hi you in the butt as you leave the sereganti full od RINO’s
Jeb Bush. Bring in more illegals to fill our schools. New World Order United Nations loving guy. Biometric ID loving no tenth Amendment in Florida under his reign. Danger danger danger. Pull back the onion peel and look behind the skin. What did his brother GW say about the Constitution ? It just paper. Get real.
Colonel McCalister. Grassroots guy. Not a politician, just a straight shooter. His message is on target. The Republican party fear him.
He will win the primary if the people pay attention to his message and his agenda instead of sucking the breast milk from the titty of the Republican elite. The RINO’s are all ready to tax us to death and compromise with the Communists and Socialists left in our Senate.
Republican insiders need to go.
GenEarly you are one hundred per cent correct abouut Lemieux! I followed him and his voting record for quite awhile and at first I thought he was a good conservative. However, he started wandering off the reservation in the latter part of his term! I think,as I remember, that he was becoming a rhino and I called and e-mailed his office on a regular basis! Beware of this guy, he is not to be trusted and goes with whatever will get him where he wants to be!
Allen West! That’s all I’m saying.
LeMieux all the way! Haridopolis was exposed by Red State
Hasner is a light weight who thinks screaming about
Muslims is the most important issue. Lemieux’s 2007 solution
Would save our country!
Ocala Patriot ! I agree with everything he said re: Mike McCalister! What a great guy, who takes his oath of office seriously! He is a “DO-ER”; no grass under his feet! He even wrote a book one year before the elections about his plan to solve some of the problems existing at that time. Since the problems are always changing or increasing now, who knows? One thing I am SURE of is that Mike loves this country, as most conservatives do He is not lax about picking up a phone to solve a problem immediately! I know because I saw him do it!! Everyone who has met him or heard him speak has been thrilled to see such a dynamic person. There are so many of us behind him. I just hope many more of you will be able to see what Mike is all about!
“Throw the bums out!”, and then says he is for Allen West! I am, too, but what has that got to do with this voting poll? Allen West is not even on the list!! Sober up , man.
LeMieux – CharLIE Crist puppet…NEXT!
Haridopolous – I know nothing about this man
Adam Hasner – A fellow Jew, but whatever, don’t know him
Mike McAllister – How is this guy NOT winning? I saw him speak at a First Hernando Republican Club meeting back in February, and I spoke to him as well. Terrific talent, great speaker, knows the issues, and is a no BS kind of guy. He’s what we need.
In the end run, it’s anyone BUT Bill Nelson (just like it’s anyone BUT Barack Obama). But as far as Marco Rubio goes….can you be a career politician when you just were elected to your FIRST term in Congress 5 months ago?
WHY isn’t Allen West on the list?
Jeb Bush and his entire family are the current incarnation of the old Rockefeller Wing of the Republican Party. Never let facts get in the way of emotion. Bushies are Internationalist Progressives and Progressives are all the same,whether Dimicrat or Repub.
There are only 2 choices for Americans: Progressive Socialist Union Internationalist Democrats and Progressive Internationalist Republicans. Not so much a choice, Skim or 2% Milk?
Choose very carefully in the primaries,there are many enemies within.
Colonel Mike McCalister is awesome. Heard him speak at Republican Luncheon on Friday. Please look at his website and see for yourself.
MIKEMcCALISTERFORSENATE>COM
After doing a lot of reading/research I have come to following conclushions:
LeMieux- He has done nothing with his time in
the Senate but play politics walking
the center of the roal with his votes.
Haridopolos- As the president of the Florida Senate he is
playing with the budget, not balancing but
just reducing. Just another establishment
politician.
Hasner- He is just another good old boy, he has not taken
a stand on anything. In fact his greatest claim to
fame…is a flip-flop on a rail bill.
McCalister- He is on the outside looking in, not one of good
old boy’s. He actually has better credentials for
the office than the other candidates, former
military puts him in a unique position for foreign
and veteran affairs. His MBA and PhD in
management better qualifies him for
financial issues. What qualifies the
other candidates? McCalister is my
choice.
I will vote for Allen West and will put my money were my mouth is. He’s an inspiring speaker and can get out the vote. He also has national recognition that will help him raise the money needed for that kind of race. GO WEST !
This country is in serious trouble if the best we can do is to vote for a rino like LeMieux! Haridopolos has problems with his taxes just like Geitner. My God, wake up Floridians, the only conservative is McCalister. We will never get our country back if we continue picking the wrong candidates to represent us. We deserve the government we get if we keep making these ridiculous choices!
Our current Senate consists of only 25 members with any military experience…25% and that is the organization that is to declare war..if necessary; to raise and support armies; to provide and maintain a Navy; to make rules for the Government and Regulations of the land and naval Forces; to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining, the Militia; approving the promotion of the Appointment of the Officers. Who is best prepared to make these decisions for those responsibilities as well as to support the tens of thousand of Veterans in the State of Florida…ONLY ONE CANDIDATE HAS THE EXPERIENCE TO REPRESENT THOSE VETERANS…COLONEL MIKE McCALISTER!
The 3rd Principle of The 5000 Year Leap is: “The most promising method of securing a virtuous and morally stable people is to elect virtuous leaders.”
Samuel Adams had this to say on that subject: “But neither the wisest constitution nor the wisest laws will secure the liberty and happiness of a people whose manners are universally corrupt.” He went on to say that public officials should not be chosen if they are lacking in experience, training, proven virtue and demonstrated wisdom. When he was speaking of experience he was not speaking of POLITICAL experience or training.
There is only one on this list whose life has given him the most experience, training, proven virtue and demonstrated wisdom. He is also the only one who has taken the oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic and followed that oath by putting his life on the line to live up to that oath…COLONEL MIKE McCALISTER
Mike is the type of candidate we Need . I have had two conversationsvwith Mike and he is trhe man foer the job. He is head and shoiulders above the others
This is for You Mikee….
On Whales, Satan Worshipping, Bordellos and US Senate Candidate Colonel Mike McCalister | Practical State http://bit.ly/fXKkwD
On “End of The Rainbow” and “Colonel Mike McCalister Has No Clothes!!” | Practical State http://bit.ly/gZfKFZ
Cheers
Go listen to Col. Mike McCalister speak, and the decision will be clear; and at the end of the election, of the electorate informs itself even modestly, it will be Sen. McCalister. Seriously, if you haven’t heard this man, you must go hear him speak. He will be at a rally in St. Augustine on April 16. Go. Listen. You owe it to yourself and your family.
It’s Mike McCalister for me. I don’t like George the R.I.N.O. representing me in the Senate. Mike McCalister is like Allen West in many respects. But he is also very well versed in economic fundamentals, foreign affairs, and the important things you want your senator to know. I believe if he can grab the primary, he should handily win the general election. Bill Nelson has already proven where his brown nose came from. And it wasn’t those of us in Florida he was supposed to be representing.
Go listen to what COLONEL MIKE McCALISTER HAS TO SAY…
April 4th 2011. Ponte Vidra Republican Club. St Johns County.
April 5th 2011. Save America Foundation. Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater Florida
April 6th 2011. Republican Federated Melbourne. Brevard County
April 7th 2011. Stone Crest Republican Club
April 9th 2011. Fort Lauderdale Tea Party
April 12th 2011. Manatee County TPM. Tea Party group
April 14th 2011. Brevard County REC
April 15th 2011. Niceville City Hall. Panhandle Patriots / Niceville Valparaiso Tea Party. 5.30 pm Okaloosa County.
April 16th 2011. Jacksonville Fairtax Tea Party 11 am. Duval County
April 18th 2011. Republican Club. Fort Lauderdale Fl
April 19th 2011. Ocala Republican Club
April 20th 2011. Daytona Beach Republican Club
April 25th 2011. Escambia County Federated Women’s Republican Club / Pensacola 1130 am
April 28th 2011. Highlands County Republican Executive Committee.
Go listen to what COLONEL MIKE McCALISTER HAS TO SAY…
April 4th 2011. Ponte Vidra Republican Club. St Johns County.
April 5th 2011. Save America Foundation. Ruth Eckerd Hall Clearwater Florida
April 6th 2011. Republican Federated Melbourne. Brevard County
April 7th 2011. Stone Crest Republican Club
April 9th 2011. Fort Lauderdale Tea Party
April 12th 2011. Manatee County TPM. Tea Party group
April 14th 2011. Brevard County REC
April 15th 2011. Niceville City Hall. Panhandle Patriots / Niceville Valparaiso Tea Party. 5.30 pm Okaloosa County.
April 16th 2011. Jacksonville Fairtax Tea Party 11 am. Duval County
April 18th 2011. Republican Club. Fort Lauderdale Fl
April 19th 2011. Ocala Republican Club
April 20th 2011. Daytona Beach Republican Club
April 25th 2011. Escambia County Federated Women’s Republican Club / Pensacola 1130 am
April 28th 2011. Highlands County Republican Executive Committee.
Whoa! George Lemieux? You might as well vote for Crist. And where is Connie Mack in this mix? And are we assuming Alan West is going to be the next VP? Looks to me like a very weak list to take on ultra-lefty Nelson who will have every union thug and teacher’s union running wild in the streets.
I like Col Allen West. He has more experience than McAllister.
I like MIKE!
As in Mike McALISTER !!
Mike H. is a Crist suck up from day one. Nice guy, not ready for prime time.
No more RINO’s from the establishment Florida GOP.
Please Add Ron Rushing to your Candidates for U. S. Senate in Florida List.
WHY AM I RUNNING FOR THE U.S. SENATE IN 2012?
Like many of you, I have parents and children in my life, which represent the generation before me and the one following me. I believe
that it is our responsibility to act now to restore this country back to a state where each American has the opportunity to move forward
with their ambitions. We must encourage our generation to stand firm in what is right and leave the next generation to follow us with a
vision and positive perspective. Over the last several years, our government has managed to stifle energy and technology growth,
increase the national debt to $14 trillion, and has continued to wastefully spend our hard-earned tax dollars. Just these few issues have
caused a cascading waterfall of problems for this country. It has become imperative to elect conservative “ordinary” people that will
stand up for “We the people”, address the issues with a determined resilience, and defend our Constitution with honor and
loyalty. These will have to be candidates that are not concerned with getting “re-elected” but candidates concerned with moving our
country forward above all else.
GIANTS WE ARE FACING!
I stand firm for the truth and believe that as innovative Americans we can implement many unprecedented solutions that will return
America back to a leadership position that the world will honor, respect, and in some cases, even follow. Currently, our nation is facing
many “giants” just as David faced Goliath. These are the giant government, giant national debt, giant spending spree, giant energy
independence crisis, giant taxes, giant jobless rate, and on it goes! David faced Goliath with “five smooth stones”. My “five smooth
stones” are SOLUTIONS that will address all of these “giant” issues and make a difference for present and future generations.
I like Ron Rushing, conservative, Christian, Republican from Central Florida. He will face the GIANTS…”giant” government, giant deficit, giant taxes, giant jobless rate, giant energy independence crisis…all without being concerned about being re-elected. Visit his website at http://www.electrushing.com for more info on this candidate, where he stands on the issues, what some of his solutions would be, etc.
Ron Rushing was a guest speaker for our Titusville Patriots meeting in March. ( TitusvillePatriots.ning.com )
All groups that tout Conservative values should contact Rushing for a speaking engagement.
You will be impressed!
I like Mike McAlister and am impressed with Ron Rushing!!
As mentioned in an earlier post, Florida cannot afford another Florida GOP groomed RINO!
HOW ABOUT ALLEN WEST FOR PRESIDENT
I always wonder how some people can pick one candidate over another before they have heard the candidates, especially in person. From the 2010 elections, we found that letting candidates talk to us but more important answer our questions is one of the best ways to pick a candidate.
At Titusville Patriots, we have and will make it a point to have as many candidates as possible speak. We let candidates speak for up to an hour, not like at many Republican events where they only get three minutes.
Ron is truly committed to the restoration of America so that the generations that follow will not be looking to the government for the answer to all problems, but to those truly given to government by our constitution. The Federal Government has grown in size that can not be sustained and we must get our spending under control so that the jobs left in America can pay for the services we have come to consider a right. We can either get our house in order or we can, “kick the can down the road,” until our creditors do it for us. If you are more concerned with America’s future than you are with what you can get now then help Ron Rushing get his message out to concerned Floridians.
What WE THE PEOPLE need is every election to send new people not politicians to Tallahasee and Washington. Niether Republicans or Democrats. Every election, and put them on a 90day probation period. If they don’t preform they come home. MAKE THEM WORK with no perks. One term only I don’t care how good they are. The career politicians wouldn’t run, because their egos couldn’t stand it. This would also end their pensions.
Mike McAlister!
Ron Rushing. Ron spoke at the Orlando Women’s Republican Club Federated meeting on Friday, April 8th. He is an eloquent speaker presenting commonsense solutions to help restore America’s greatness.
Review the position/platform statements as set forth on each candidates web sites.
McCallister is still playing coy with his positions, especially with regard to the Islamist threats to this nation as well as our foreign policy in Islamic nations. We our wasting our resources, both human and fiscal, and he doesn’t even bring up the topic. My personal communications with McCallister revealed that he really doesn’t believe the electorate needs to know what he believes about these critical issues, as if it is none of our business. That is the worst mentality we could have representing us.
Adam Hasner is the clearest, boldest, and most forthright of the bunch on what we need to be doing.
Why anyone intelligent human would vote for the bloviating Mike is beyond common sense. He is focused on himself and his “curriculum vitae.” Obama has a curriculum vitae that is four times as long. Does that mean we should vote for him????? You got to be nuts.