Posted on 08/15/2012 3:05:04 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
Hard to imagine, but maybe Washington's political pros have a better handle on Florida's sleepy U.S. Senate race than Florida's most experienced politicos.
Because the national Republican strategists and fundraisers determined to gain control of the U.S. Senate have already pumped in more than $9 million for TV ads hammering Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson. They see Florida as a prime pickoff opportunity — and they are right.
U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV on Tuesday night officially became the Republican nominee after trouncing his little-known, cash-strapped primary challengers.
With Congress' approval ratings at record lows, and voters fed up with the status quo, it's a tough time to be a politician like Nelson, 69, who has been in public office since he was elected to the Legislature in 1972. He is a fifth-generation Floridian with a knack for performing better than most Democrats in conservative North Florida, but that may be tougher with the polarized electorate of 2012.
What's more, he must contend with new campaign finance laws that likely mean he will be out-spent.
"If you wanted to make a profile of the typical candidate who's been having problems in elections across the country, Bill would fit that profile," said Al Cardenas, head of the American Conservative Union and former chairman of the Florida Republican Party.
(Excerpt) Read more at tampabay.com ...
It would be great to pick up this seat for the R column.
Not sure Connie Mack is any better. He worked for Charlie Crist and is part of the old guard GOP.
When did Nelson leave “The Price Is Right”?
Check out the results here: http://enight.elections.myflorida.com/FederalOffices/
In the Us Senate race, 1.123 MILLION votes were cast for REP candidates, but only .872 votes cast for DEM senate candidates.
AND, Allen West, with 46K votes out-polled ALL DEM candidates combined w/ 34K votes.
Republican turnout was strong, Dim turnout weak.
REM: .872 M DEM votes. We regret the error.
Thank you for the information and link!
This is a case where I’m just hoping for the R. It does matter.
Bill Nelson has been a big fat zero for Florida in the hundred or so years he’s been in the U.S. Senate.
Course the stupids of Floriduh will most likely re-elect his sorry ass.
Although I admit Nelson needs to go to control the Senate, geeesh Connie Mack! I can’t stand this guy, but we need this seat. For the sake of that, I will vote to get Bill Nelson out. He is more dangerous then that idiot, playboy Connie Mack.
This is one time that it really gauls me that the True conservatives who ran and had a message, could not get the cash needed to run a campaign.
Realities bite sometimes.
People in FL don’t know Nelson’s voting record, the way it was for the S. Carolinians with Fritz Hollings and the Texans with Lloyd M. Bentsen, Jr., for that matter. People are uninformed.
In some cases, our only choice is between a D and an R, not much else distinguishing the 2 candidates from each other. If this is one of those cases, then I have to side with the R.
As you say, it’s all about which party controls the Senate.
Because, polling actual voters would be such out-of-the-box thinking.
That is why Cruz received support from outside of Texas. Conservatives from outside of the state identified him as a Reagan Republican. Sadly, other good candidates are not as lucky.
I live in Florida we in North Florida definitely know Nelson’s voting record and are doing what we can to get rid of him.
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