by Javier Manjarres
Many Republican activists around the state are becoming increasingly pessimistic about the Party’s chances to defeat incumbent Senator Bill Nelson, as both Congressman Connie Mack and former Senator George LeMieux have under performed and have largely failed to inspire the conservative grassroots base of the Party.
The most recent Republican primary polls have Mack with a seemingly insurmountable lead over LeMieux and Mike McCalister. But even with Mack frontrunner status and a significant advantage in term of name identification, Mack has slipped in recent polls that have him going head-to-head against incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson. Pollsters have changed the Senate seat back to “leaning Democrat.”The latest Quinnipiac poll has Nelson with an 8 point lead over Mack in a head to head matchup. **UPDATE-(Latest Rasmussen poll has Mack leading Nelson by 7-Rasmussen)
Mack has seen considerable pushback from conservatives for his support for embryonic stem cell research, and his campaign turned off many ‘Tea Party’ leaders to the point that many of them are now leaning towards supporting LeMieux.
LeMieux is relishing this new found support from Tea Party organizations and other people are considering his candidacy simply because he is the only other viable candidate at this juncture. But LeMieux has more significant issues to contend with, including he close partnership with former Governor Charlie Crist. Both Crist and LeMieux have been accused of knowing all about former RPOF Chairman Jim Greer’s controversial business dealings that landed him in jail.(Read more: Miami Herald)
Miami Herald reporter Marc Caputo noted that even “the Club for Growth, has declined to get involved in the race. “We’re still looking at it,” a spokesman said. In August, before Mack jumped in, the club’s leader lamented the absence of a candidate like Sen. Marco Rubio, who bested Crist in 2010.- Miami Herald
National Tea Party organizations like FreedomWorks have also been noncommittal about the race and have focused their advocacy efforts elsewhere in recent weeks.
Considering the fact that both Mack and LeMieux are only sitting on about $1 million dollars apiece, Nelson is enjoying a significant advantage at this point that is keeping many potential donors and supporters on the sidelines- potential supporters who perhaps are holding out for the possibility of a late entrance by a candidate who can quickly rally the base and assemble a formidable campaign that can pose a serious threat to Nelson’s chances in November.
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46 Responses to “**Update-Florida GOP Unsettled With Current Senate Candidates”
I blame the state Republican headquarters! They should have 1)identified a charasmatic conservative candidate the could generate the enthusiasm that was prevalent prior to the 2010 election and 2)encouraged/coerced him/her to run for the Senate. Alan West would have been the optimal choice that could have coalesced the support of various factions.
Since West isn’t running for the Senate and Hasner dropped out…..
What to do? LeMieux? Mack? No enthusiasm, I wonder why, they are perfectly “acceptable” RINO Country Clubbers.
Now a certain defeat for Nelson is in doubt. Only Repubs can snatch a certain victory and turn it into defeat.
But I am an American Patriot before anything else and that communist Nelson has to go!
So find a Constitutional Conservative: http://www.stuart2012.com
Is it really that hard to think for yourself?
Please, not all country-clubbers are establishment types and many are changing stripes to closet-Tea Party types, being careful not to offend politically squishy peers. And that includes elite country clubs where polical discussion is taboo.
I don’t think these CC Bushie elitists will ever find their golf balls.
Buddy, the good Mr. West is a nutcase.
Who gave him the idea to become this generation’s Joe McCarthy?
This business of “communists” in the Congress is pure nuttiness.
If that’s the kind of guy you want running this country, then well, I feel sorry for you.
http://tinyurl.com/cqzkbel You will find the following:
Be sure to read the last line.
The CPC, which boasts more than 80 members, was founded by the Democratic Socialists of America, or DSA. Until November 2002, the website of the Progressive Caucus was hosted by the DSA. Following news reports that drew attention to the congressional website being hosted by the socialist organization, the list of CPC names was moved to the website of Sen. Bernard Sanders, I-Vt., an avowed socialist, and eventually to its own site.
While the DSA tries to paint distinctions between its brand of socialism and communism, before scrubbing its website, the site included a song list that included:
● “The Internationale,” the worldwide anthem of Communism and socialism.
● “Red Revolution” sung to the tune of “Red Robin,” with these lyrics: “When the Red Revolution brings its solution along, along, there’ll be no more lootin’ when we start shootin’ that Wall Street throng.…”
● “Are You Sleeping, Bourgeoisie?” Lyrics included: “Are you sleeping? Are you sleeping? Bourgeoisie, Bourgeoisie. And when the revolution comes, We’ll kill you all with knives and guns, Bourgeoisie, Bourgeoisie.”
The DSA is a political action committee and bills itself as the heir to the defunct Socialist Party of America. Its chief organizing objective is to work within the Democratic Party as the primary, but not sole, method of achieving public ownership of private property and the means of production.
Rich, I’m not your “buddy”.
I have nothing in common with your progressive-socialist amoral big government agendas.
You and your Obamanation can go straight to hell.
I’ll stand with West and Ted Nugent to defeat you utterly and completely. No quarter given or asked.
Blame it all on the RPOF@ They intentionally, arrogantly, and blatantly protect their own establishment candidates. They blocked several good candidates from speaking at Presidency 5. And these candidates were all better Republicans than their favorites. So, now they will pay for their stupidity. Vote for Marielena Stuart, she is bright, and will not sell out like Rubio and West and the RPOF. On the national level, they are just as dumb because they will lose to Obama if they keep pushing Romney. They have committed voter fraud across the country just to get Romney to win. The Republican Party is run by a bunch of corrupt, duplicitous idiots. And because of these corrupt elitists, America will suffer. I’m beginning to suspect that this is their agenda anyway. Both parties suck!
You apparently were not following Mr. LeMieu while he was our senator a short while back. He did a stand up job, and voted against bill after bill. He also actually responded to your letters and Emails and addressed the issue you wrote about instead of sending a form letter that didn’t come close to the issue you showed concern about. He is a fine person who decided to do this only because he knows his country needs him and his plans include doing only 1 or at most 2 terms because he has a job, a life and a young family. Quite truthfully, I would feel honored to have him as my senator, and I am a conservative. I also think he can beat Bill Nelson. If you are still tying Mr. LeMeix to Crist, don’t. He did not vote at all like Mr. Crist would have. He let us know early on, he was OUR senator. Go back and watch some of his YouTube videos from the senate floor to get a feel for this man (and he spoke out many times………..excellent man)
I think he voted FOR Dodd-Frank Finance”Reform” and for Federal Control of Agriculture down to your “vegetable garden” because sheeple are too stoopid to manage their “Fiat Money” or their tomatoes.
“And as history further shows, when you cannot trust them with your currency, you certainly cannot trust them with your liberty.” Simon Black, SovereignMan.com
Hey, smart guy, do you really believe that placing more regulations on the thieves on Wall Street is bad?
Dodd-Frank didn’t go far enough.
This crap about the “markets” taking care of themselves is all B.S.
Crooks left to their own devices will simply become better and more devious crooks and then you and I will get stuck with the bill when they crash the economy again.
Stop the macho posturing and act like a grown-up.
Hey “Useful Idiot” the “Thieves” on Wall Street ELECTED Obama.(As well as Bush*)
*Insert added to prevent bush derangement syndrome which predictably spews forth when the word obama is mentioned in a less favorable light.
Government left to it’s on devices is nirvanna for idiots, ah but I repeat myself.
PS the economy is already crashed even after “the obama summer of recovery in 2010″. Remember that one? Wasn’t it wonderful, comrade?
Whats wrong with McCalister?? He sounded pretty damn good to me.
AMEN! Sounds good to me too! He has my vote!
Yes, the State GOP is as anemic as the national GOP, as they seem unable to put up a strong conservative candidate. IMO, Nelson should be relatively easy to beat, as should Obama. However I fear ‘The One’ will win re-election, as well as Nelson may. The GOP has become ‘Democrat Lite!’
Greg, you guys got it all wrong.
If the republican party ever got to the point where it was FISCALLY conservative and socially liberal, it would kick ass.
You guys can’t understand that most Americans don’t give two hoots about all the social issues the teabag nuts in DC put forth.
The majority of Americans want good, well paying jobs, good healthcare and secure retirement. They’re not worried about what the NRA wants, de-funding Planned Parenthood and all the B.S. the teabags keep coming up with. Hell, even staunch old conservative Pat Buchanan recognized the importance of unions and keeping American workers strong.
If you guys ever grow up and stop being concerned about weird shit, the republican party would kick ass!!
George Lemieux did vote very conservativly when he was in the senate. As far as his connection with Crist, of course that hurts; but don’t forget we did not know until the last that Christ went down the drain. LeMieux was associated with him when all was well with us and the party.
Mack has the one penny plan going for him. Is it for real or a gimic that hides the substance or lack of substance in his canidacy.
We need a strong candidate that can also expose Nelson for the socialist/communist he has become. Either of these two should handily beat the man who bent over for Obama and allowed him to destroy NASA in Florida, then voted with Obama on every US Constitutional killing idea he had.
Floridians can not allow a socialist destroyer like Nelson another term.
Mack is not his father. If you truly want a Rino, then he is your guy. His father was wonderful and is still well thought of, but be wary of the son as he is not the man his father was.
Republican headquarters of Florida is totally lacking of truly conservative Republicans. What is needed is an independent conservative candidate that would generate the enthusiasm with the conservative Republican voters. I am urging all conservatives to vote for the independent candidate regardless if we are told he/she can win or not. We must drive home to the party leaders that they are no longer in charge but we the people are. What we need is a good Ron Paul type. In fact Kathy Bolam of Venice, Fl 34293, would be an excellent choice.
I’m in Chopper’s corner on this one. West would make an ideal candidate against Nelson and as a plus it would rub against the State Politicians grain. I just love to hear the “establishment” talk in squeaky voices.
Howdie Doodie Nelson must go just as much as commie obamie.
Mack has a great attack ad against Nelson right now…he’s
the only candidate doing anything right now.
Rasmussen Reports just came out with Mack +7 over Nelson, LeMieux -3 to Nelson & McCalister -4 to Nelson. If these numbers are even slightly accurate, it shows Nelson’s support is dropping. Special thanks to all those @ TEA Party Manatee’s Tax Day Rally & Candidate Forum I MC’d yesterday! It ain’t OVER and “yes we CAN” defeat Barack Obama and bring some “common sense” back to Washington, DC…
You saw firsthand the dynamic presentation of MARIELENA STUART http://WWW.STUART2012.com at yesterday’s Tax Day Rally in Manatee. The response from the audience to her conservative message was overwhelming. Florida does have a conservative candidate to defeat Bill Nelson and her name is MARIELENA STUART. The three empty suits running against her can’t compare to this breath of fresh air sweeping across Florida despite the wishes of the establishment.
Having Mccalister arrive late and inserting him at the end of the rally backfired on you, since half the audience had departed already and he droned on as usual until even you, his big supporter, had to cut him off and feed him a setup question. Unfortunately for him he couldn’t handle it and made a further fool of himself with his attempt. You really should have arranged it with him beforehand.
You too can now see the wisdom of joining me in support of MARIELENA STUART http://www.STUART2012.com as she blazes across Florida helping to save America.
Connnie Mack is our only real chance to get rid of Nelson, just as Romny’s our only chance to get rid of Obama. Florida Republican just need to get behind our candidates, as flawed as they may be. Both are far preferable to the Democratic alternatives. As Mick Jagger sang, “You can’t always get what you want.”
Come on Carlos wake up! “as flawed as they may be”? Why settle for a flawed establishment candidate? That’s what got us into the mess we are in. By now you should be aware of MARIELENA STUART http://www.STUART2012.com. She comes from a family of freedom fighters who herself is fighting socialism by campaigning against AGENDA 21 throughout Florida. Check out her speeches on You Tube and read her articles on http://www.RENEWAMERICA.com.
Carlos, I drive many miles to hear her speak whenever I can. I suggest you attend one of her speeches so you can see what an incredible CONSERVATIVE candidate she is. You won’t be disappointed. Join MARIELENA STUART as she storms across Florida helping to save America.
Jim, you are “spot on” with Marielena Stuart. She is just the type of grassroots candidate we need. If she doesn’t inspire you, nothing will. I suggest everyone take a look at this woman for our senate!
I like Jim’s comments. I heard Ms. Stuart speak, and she is dynamic, but she is not well known around the State. I wish Allan West or Jeb Bush would step up the the plate, and run for the Senate.
Reguardless of his “Obama” voting record, Bill Nelson will be hard to beat because of his ability to relate to the local issues, for example the Oil Spill. There is one Republican who can beat him, Jeb Bush. However Bush is unwilling to sacrifice for the Republican Party or the State of Florida. Perhaps he has higher goals, but I don’t think if he does that they will lead to anything.
Nelson incumbent, two terms in, and the best he can muster is 44%! He should be dead meat.
Personally, I fault the RPOF for having created an atmosphere over the last decade which does not reward those who decide to move up without kissing the ring first.
Go back a bit and ask yourself how this immiscible, Nelson, got to the Senate in the first place? He was an utterly failed insurance commissioner. Did he win, or was it a gift?
We must remember that brother Jeb was Gov. then. Little Billy McCollum, even then, due to redistricting of his house seat, wanted to wear the big boy pants. But, there was this interloper in his way, Education Commissioner Tom Gallagher. A man who was truly comfortable in his own skin and a normal sort of guy in the public spotlight. Billy has never seemed to be really at ease. He has that pucker factor going on. Gallagher must have not been much for ass kissing so one day brother Jeb changing to his Don Corleone role told Tom it was best if he went away. Little Billy was to be Senator. End of story.
Too bad brother Jeb forgot to to give the voters the same news. Little billy got his arse whipped, as expected. And, instead of that seat being held it became a symptom of exactly what was, and is still, wrong with the republican party and the elite ruling class within here and inside the beltway.
So, we who could not be trusted to vote correctly have been saddled with yet another imbecile representing us for the past TWELVE YEARS, many thanks to the all intrusive nanny brother jeb and the bush clan.
And the “tea party” is now going to vote for charlie’s stooge. Why not.
At least Scott won, that’s some reason to hope for a future. Remember how they tried to destroy him? Meanwhile, brother jeb has move on to another fresher face.
Thank you!
Bushie’s are Progressive (NWO) One Worlders. the Elder BushI signed US up for UN Agenda 21 Treaty. Don’t know what that is?
Then YOU are part of the problem.
I overlooked BushII’s problems, but fought back on his Amnesty and initial insane Supreme Court nomination.
And Jebby is no different, pandering to His-panics just like the Dimicats do.
We are either all Americans,(who can have different points of view),or Not. But please stop with the racial,gender,lifestyle,class pandering warfare.
The fact that LeMieux is being given a second look by conservatives and the Tea Party shows just how short people’s memory and attention span are.
This is the guy who was Charlie Crist’s gatekeeper, advisor, head cheerleader, enabler, and hatchet man throughout Crist’s tenure not only as a RINO backstabber governor, but as Attorney General as well.
Let’s not forget that it was George LeMieux who executed Crist’s revenge on conservatives by essentially cleaning out state government and the Republican Party of Florida of Jeb’s people. It was George LeMieux who suggested that Jim Greer head (and subsequently nearly destroy) the RPOF, and it was George LeMieux who during a campaign seminar declared “conservatism is dead.”
George LeMieux was the architect of every one of the Backstabber Crist’s legislative initiatives, including Cap-and-Trade, restoring felons voting rights, embracing Obama and his stimulus, appointing two very liberal Supreme Court Justices (who overturned the ObamaCare amendment, by the way), socialized Florida’s property insurance market, and the list goes on.
LEMIEUX WAS THERE MAKING EVERY ONE OF THOSE DECISIONS HAPPEN AND EVEN AFTER ALL THAT CONTINUED CALLING HIMSELF A CHARLIE CRIST REPUBLICAN.
And then when he left and Crist tapped him to be his seat-warmer in the Senate, LeMieux used his influence to convince lobbyists, fundraisers and fellow Senators not to support Marco Rubio.
I’m not a Mack guy either (let’s not forget Mack supported Crist in the primary against Rubio), but at least Mack is not responsible for enabling Crist all those years, unlike LeMieux.
DO NOT BE FOOLED BY SHARP POLITICIANS WHO KNOW HOW TO TALK A GOOD GAME. LOOK AT THEIR RECORD.
And by record I mean look at LeMieux’s full record, not just the few months he was up in DC publicly casting votes he knew would be popular in a Republican primary while privately trashing Marco Rubio.
I think what the party need to do at this time,is to unite around whichever Candidate is naminated.Nelson cannot and will not be defeated without the full and total support of all Republicans in Florida.This disunity,infighting and questioning of who is more moderate or conversative should end.Any of the Republican Candidates are 100% less Liberal than Nelson
Someone call Dick morris, he’s got Nelson losing now and in Nov. I agree it’s the RPOF (yes,the voters were RiPed OFf) that is to blame. We have the establishment RINOs peddling milquetoasts like Pepe Le Pew
and Mack. It’s pathetic. Since Nelson was in the military, I think West would be a great antidote to hit him with. I’d prefer West as Romney’s veep but I don’t think he’ll choose him, so Sen. would be good.
Draft former Congressman Dave Weldon! He is a true conservative.
I, for one, am kinda happy the polls may be showing dinosaur Nelson winning – it could work same as the National polls by making all the dum-Dems a little too complacent to get out the vote; while it works the opposite on the conservative base to get out THEIR vote and make sure the polls are WRONG. We need to get rid of the dinosaur and the muslim, among others.
It’s a bit late for all this posturing and nay-saying. This division simply helps the Liberals. Romney’s super pac has done more to insure he DOESN’T get elected than anything the Dems will do. It’s curbed the enthusiasm on our side of the electorate. Now do you wish to help keep the Senate on the left? If you want to do something constructive, get behind the choices we have to unseat the left and stand united UNTIL AFTER THE ELECTION. It’s obvious by the way the establishment torpedoed everyone but Romney that consevatives and the RINOs CANNOT coexist. That’s an issue for after the election because if Obama gets re-elected we may not have the future required to organize the new party this country desparately needs!
If RNC Co-Chair Sharon Day were to jump in, this can be an altogether different race.
What is wrong with you people? Have you not heard we have another Paula Hawkins running for U.S. Senate. Marielena Stuart is a breath of fresh air. She is completely genuine and loves this country so. She understand about the U.N. agenda trying to take over out country. She understand about foreign powers from within trying to take away our freedoms and our property rights. She understand what we need to do to take back this country from the liberals and the establishment.
Look her up. Soon you will be hearing more as she has just started. You will be amazed how she is the right woman at the right time to lead this state out of its mess and put Washington back on track. Check her out!!!
Agree with Adelle Blackman.Marielena Stuart needs to be heard and supported statewide.She is knowledgeable on the issues and a true conservative, the real deal.
Why anyone would suport Connie Mack is beyond me since:
He has openly admitted he has missed more than 2 weeks of voting in congress because he was “CAMPAIGNING.” After his years in Congress does he not yet understand what his job is? He is supposed to be working for the taxpayers by voting on legislation, learning about legislation – not campaigning on our dimes. He gets a lot of vacation time so I believe he should return the pay he received while he was “CAMPAIGNING.”
He thinks he has a “right of passage” to the Senate seat because his father was a Senator. Excuse Me? This is not a personal, family corporation we are taking about here and his ego is showing through.
Consider the amount of time he spends in CA with his wife – he claims only a few days a year, but his campaign records do not support that.
His voting record is not truly conservative and this idea of these guys making our taxpayer dollars their personal bank that they can run for office there whole life is getting out of hand.
How about if Connie Mack got a REAL job for a change like the people whose money he likes to spend all the time. This goes for Bill Nelson also.
And Mr. LeMieux is a lobbyist and not far from that Charlie tree. We need fresh blood representing us because none of these 3 have done a very good job in the past. Time they are permanently fired.
No sure if Stuart or McCalister can do the job but I would bet that either one of them would does as well if not better than these other 3 and they are not career politicans.
Time to vote for the person and not the PARTY – ANY PARTY! The PARTIES are what has gotten this country to where they are!
Comrade Citizen,
“Not sure if Stuart can do the job”
Have you heard her speak? Does she also need to walk on water?
What does it take to be “qualified”?
Endorsements and Donations by the major Lobbyists and “Party hacks”
We agree with Adelle Blackman. There is only ONE Constitutional Conservative in the race so far.
It’s MARIELENA STUART. http://WWW.STUART2012.com
We not only need to take the Senate back and get rid of the Rhino Republicans who are there now and not replace them with more Rhinos like Connie Mack, George LeMieux, or Mike McCalister.
Marilyn & Joe Harrill
Venice Florida
Members of the Florida 912 Project
& Tea Party Patriots
We MUST do everything possible to DEFEAT that Communist Nelson this November. He has voted for every Socialist Bill that Harry (Houdini) Reed brought up for a vote in the Senate over the last 3.5 years!! We need to send Obama and Nelson BOTH packing and removing them from Office this November. This Country is headed in the wrong Direction and these two clowns are responsible for Bankrupting the USA!!!
If you read all of the posted comments, you will notice not one negative listed about Marielena Stuart. Why would I vote for one of the other flawed candidates picked by the party machine? I say “Wake Up People” and check out Stuart.
A true American Patriot who is breaking into the U.S.Senate race against Bill Nelson is Ron McNeil. He is a Florida businessman and a native of the Panhandle and has been a solution-oriented person all his life. His website is http://www.mcneil2012.com. You won’t be disappointed if you’ll give him a chance. After hearing him speak twice he has my vote over the other candidates.
Rae
Good analysis this race isn’t over yet. Expect McCalister to stay in since he steayd in the Governor’s race last year to the end. Miller may drop out. LeMieux and Hasner have nowhere else to go so they’ll stay in too.