by Javier Manjarres
With Congressman Allen West’s recent announcement that he will not be leaving his House Seat to run for the U.S. Senate, the Republican Senate primary picture is beginning to come into clearer focus. Many had thought West would be a shoo-in to defeat incumbent Senator Bill Nelson, but that task is now up to one the remaining candidates- Adam Hasner, Craig Miller, Mike McCalister and George LeMieux.
It appears that some separation amongst the candidates is beginning to take shape. After last weekend’s Republican Senate forum in Orlando, Florida, Former Leader Adam Hasner and former U.S. Senator George Lemieux seem to have gained a step or two over rivals former Army Col. Mike McCalister and businessman Craig Miller.
Craig Miller is the newbie in the race, and while he is still rolling out his campaign, he has yet to consolidate any real support. And while McCalister was leading the race in the latest Quinnipiac Poll, he’s stumbled of late after after dodging questions about certain misstatements he made regarding his military record after the Senate forum ended. McCalister’s issues have grown some legs and now supporters are beginning to question the record themselves.
As for Hasner and LeMieux, their respective campaigns are buzzing along according to plan. Hasner, considered by many to be the more conservative of the two, was recently endorsed by former Florida State Legislator Allan Bense.
25 Responses to “Adam Hasner and George LeMieux Begin to Separate from the Pack”
McCalister is done! LeMieux is a Charlie Crist Republican! So I’m with Hasner!
We need Hasner, not a Rhino.
As a Marine, I really was interested in McCalister. However, after seeing him in person I was very disappointed. He talked for a very long time but had zero depth of actual knowledge of the current issues. Most of the people I was with were looking for the door after 10 minutes of his rambling.
The other articles I have seen about McCalister’s “military” experience leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Anyone in the military that claims to participate in “black ops” in their resume was most likely a cook.
I am now supporting Hasner, but would like to know more about Miller.
Why don’t you look up the Colonel’s credentials on his web site http://www.mikemccalisterforsenate.com instead of relying on articles by paid political bloggers to shape your opinions for you. McCalister served his country – more than any other Republican candidate who is running. He NEVER claimed combat, battlefront types of service. In myopinion, McCalister is by far the best person for the job and the only person who has a chance to unseat Bill Nelson. Colonel McCalister also saved the life of a woman who was trapped underwater in her vehicle. He loves the military and he cares deeply about people. I will be voting for him.
The election is a year away and yet this author is attempting to slant public opinion. This is so transparent and common with media people. The media and insiders don’t want McCalister, so they are going to smear him every opportunity. I don’t think there is even ONE intelligent Floridian that would not vote for McCalister.
Bense endorsement is big:
1. SIGNIFICANT fundraising ability
2. BIG Voter magnet in Panhandle
3. Son-in-Law will be incoming Speaker at time of election equals $$$$
http://www.sunshinestatesarah.com/2011/08/connections-between-mike-mccalister-and.html
…Mike McCalister owes Floridians answers about his ties to Doug Guetzloe and his true intentions in the the 2012 Senate race.
He also owes the many people who have worked hard to support the tea party movement in Florida an explanation why he would have anything to do with a man who has worked so hard to undermine their efforts.
We wouldn’t vote for LeMieux if he were the only candidate running. He and Crist are one-in-the-same – useless. They pander to the libs/progressives and will do or say ANYTHING to garner their votes. LeMieux won’t have our votes!
I guess I am going to go with Hasner LeMieux’s ties with Crist are just to much and I really don’t think he is a conservative.
Adam is our best hope of electing a real conservative. LeMieux is indeed a Charlie Crist Republican in philosophy, and McCalister is a Charlie Crist Republican in telling us whatever we want to hear – let’s not fall for this again!
It always amazes me that anyone can actually leave a comment like “he is a Charlie Crist Republican” or “he and Crist are one in the same” and believe that such a statement is powerful enough to support a vote one way or the other. Perhaps a little research on the two individuals, and real cogent arguments would be more effective in a post. It seems Hasner’s recent press releases of late seem to have worked in convincing the more illiterate of “Patriots” (a self-descriptive title used way too often by non-veterans) that George LeMieux is Charlie Crist based on his record. What record? He was in Congress for a relatively short time and did fairly well. Seriously, I have yet to take sides, but the Hasner camp and its barrage of logical fallacies and Tea Party-centric rhetoric is starting to make him look bad. They should shape up. But hey, the Shark Tank and Sunshine State blogs have never been anything more than thinly diguised political campaigns for individuals and not issues.
The comment “He’s a Charlie Crist Republican” stems from when George Lemieux claimed “I’m a Charlie Crist Republican” in 2009. BTW, one does not have to’ve served in the military to be a Patriot. As a matter of fact, I know a few vets that I’d hardly consider as patriots.
Hi. It’s Sergio. I am a Hispanic Jew and live in south Florida and I believe that I helped create Marco Rubio and my big ego wants the satisfaction of working with all of the Hasner supporting bloggers (who deny their association) so I can say how powerful I am and that I am the only person in the future who can make or break a candidate. I will leak whatever irrelevant drama I possibly can to make everyone look as bad as Hasner feels about having no job. I want nothing more than to have all of the winning candidates come from South Florida because it is simply a personal win for my insatiable ego. I am supporting Hasner because I know that he will destroy the entire Republican party and every Republican candidate if that is what it takes for him to win. He is my kind of man. I am not into honesty or integrity, I am simply about me and collecting favors for doing whatever low-life scummy things it takes for me to bring other people down to try to help his sinking campaign. I just want everyone to know where I’m coming from and what this is all about. Viva Hispanic, Jewish south Florida.
How can any Conservative or Military Vet want to vote for this guy McCalister?! The man has lied more then once about his military record! And it’s on video. Plus Mike never fought in any war on the battle field against any enemy against America. Mike was a reservist as a pencil pusher. I respect anyone that serves in the reverses but don’t try and fool the public that you are this war hero or something?! Plus, I can’t stand someone like McCalister using the military just to get votes! This guy is a FRAUD!
How much does Hasner pay you to cut, copy and paste this same old thing over and over. I have heard Colonel McCalister speak at least 8 times, including when he was “running for Governor.” NEVER EVER did he say that he had time in the trenches not did he try to portray himself as a war hero. You Hasner campaign people are so desperate that you are laughable. It is time for you to get out the life boats because the Hasner dingy is going down and not just in the polls. If you are an Afghan Vet, how do you feel about your candidate exploiting WWII veterans at an event where he was told NOT to campaign, but he did anyway, passed out his cards and took photos with the Vets. Then he left with his wife and campaign manager before the recognition ceremony. Did you hear me? HASNER DID NOT GIVE A SHIT ABOUT THE VETS. THIS MEANS YOU – FOOL! Thank God these WWII Vets didn’t stand for his abuse and exploitation and sent Hasner a letter telling him what a disgusting thing he did and that he would NEVER get their vote. Why don’t you grab a clue, instead of allow yourself to be used by a Phony? Just ask Mike Haridopolous about Hasner if you didn’t get the Tweet.
@WWIIVET
First of all, you are lying by misrepresenting yourself as a WWII veteran. Second, I was at the event and Hasner apparently had another event to attend, but did make it a point to be at the Vet’s event. Third, McCalister was there wearing his full dress uniform, what?
Talk about exploiting veterans, he dresses in his ceremonial military clothes just because it is a WWII veterans event? Those that mean that he honors the WWII vets more?
You need to stop smoking what you are smoking.
I think Craig Miller is clearly the best candidate. Given his straight talking way and the fact that he is not a polished career politician, he is exactly who we need to take out Bill Nelson. The guy is a veteran, job creator, and has the closest American Dream story in the race. Not sure how Hasner is trying to get to the right of LeMieux when his voting record is clearly moderate. LeMieux’s association with Charlie is bad, but his voting record blows away Hasner’s. If Craig Miller doesn’t become viable I think you have to go with LeMieux given on the voting record. If you vote on likeability alone, Hasner can’t get us there. Not likeable at all.
Hasner is hands down the most conservative but is preaching to the choir in our case. His biggest problem is Nelson will soon begin distancing himself from all the Obama failures he endorsed. Yahoo
is counting on amnesia, hoping he dodged the 2010 juggernaut that took so many koolaid drinkers. He will also go out of his way, both with his own wealth and the lib media, to paint Hasner as predatory to the old folks, just like Gov. Prozac Chiles did to Jeb in 1994.
If Jeb entered the race it’d be an ass whooping but he won’t. Hasner
needs to score as many debates with Nelson as he can (which Yahoo will likely try to limit) and wrap Obama around his neck. That’s how we got rid of Crist but Nelson will be more evasive. This will probably be the nastiest Sen. campaign in FL history so Adam better
raise $ and get tough. Remember the RINO est. GOP is still pissed at how Marco crushed their lackey. Right now the polls look bad for Hasner, he either engages or we’ll have another 6 yrs. of Yahoo, God forbid. The minority vote is unlikely but the Jewish vote is huge for him.
LeMieux was close to Charlie Crist, but felt betrayed and distanced himself from Crist during the Senatorial race. As soon as Marco Rubio jumped in, LeMieux supported Rubio and campaigned for Marco since day one–and not Charlie Crist.
LeMieux also has one of the most conservative records in the Senate, with only one questionable vote out of many. Hasner, on the other hand, supported the rapid train (Orlando to Tampa)and multiple green initiatives. Here are links verifying this you can check:
Start this video at Minute 17:18- he is asked about his Green Record:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fr6FozXIyEM
http://articles.sun-sentinel.com/2009-11-19/news/0911190171_1_foreign-affairs-auto-electric-vehicles-hybrids
Prius Hybrid Drivers willing to go electric will get $5000 rebate (Idea of House Majority Leader, Adam Hasner-2009)
http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2009/08/10/story4.htmlSolar rebates –this program gave up to $20,000 rebate. Remember when it came out?
http://www.policyarchive.org/handle/10207/bitstreams/17535.pdf Look on pg 3,8, 10 2008 Campaign Cash weighs in on Climate Change Debate.
Hasner was also an advocate of the PACE program which is at a standstill right now.
http://www.flaseia.org/PressReleaseNews/GovernorCristSignsPACELaw05-31-10.html
http://pacenow.org/blog/
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=40983 Financial Incentives for Electric Vehicles 2009
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=34646 Solar Energy 2008
http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/sections/Bills/billsdetail.aspx?BillId=33762 Energy 2006
Creates the “Florida Renewable Energy Technologies and Energy Efficiency Act; creates the
Renewable Energy Technologies Grants Program as a matching fund program; plus MUCH More.
I can’t support Hasner because he believes in Global Warming and supported a green agenda while in office. His record is brief and liberal, in spite of what he says.
Rignt now I am leaning LeMieux, but your comments have encouraged me to look at other options. Thanks so much for the input. Keep it coming!!
I was there last Saturday. Adam and LeMieux are polished politicans. Mike and Craig are speaking from the head and heart! Let’s give them a chance. There new to the game!
Let the campaign roll out plenty of time to vet the candidates, Hasner or McAlister for me so far but need to learn more about Craig Miller.
LeMeiux, not so much,not bad but too moderate for me. 6 years is a long time to put up with a “McCain” from Florida,My Friends!
Can we just clone Marco?
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I heard Colonel McCalister speak in south Florida. He never said he was a combat vet. He never said he was a war hero. He spoke on the issues. He is well versed on Agenda 21. He wants us out of the United Nations. He is a people person. I asked him if he was a combat vet he said no. He said he worked with Spec Ops guys in planning and organizing but not in a hot DZ. I like the guy. Hasner is a RINO global warming loon. He will sell us out to the United Nations in a heartbeat if he can get funding for his electric cars. I think Colonel McCalister will be speaking with the Navy SEALs next March in an event in Fort Walton Beach. I think he is our best shot to get back to the Constitution.
The unemployment rate just keeps shooting up and the amount of despondent folks is steadily rising along with it.