The Florida Federation of Republican Women want a replacement in Washington for Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, in November. At the FFRW annual conference in Tallahassee on Sunday, FFRW members held a straw poll. Although the vote doesn’t technically constitute an endorsement, FFRW members chose former US Sen. George LeMieux as their preferred candidate to face Nelson in the General Election.
LeMieux participated in the FFRW forum earlier that day along with US Rep. Connie Mack and Col. Mike McCalister (Ret.), answering questions from both members and the moderator.
LeMieux’s wife Meike introduced her husband and he expressed appreciation for the fact they could both be at the meeting together because they have four young children.
Each candidate addressed the audience directly before fielding questions.
LeMieux has one advantage—his record. When a former governor appointed LeMieux to the vacant seat, Floridians weren’t sure what kind of senator the Broward County attorney would be. Conservatives came to appreciate LeMieux’s efforts in fighting the government takeover of healthcare comprising the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) as well as his vote for the deployment of 6,000 National Guard troops to the US southern border.
LeMieux received several awards from taxpayer advocacy groups like Citizens Against Government Waste who awarded him the ‘Taxpayer Hero’ Award. He also received a ‘Guardian of Small Business’ award from the National Federation of Independent Business.
LeMieux fielded questions from the audience on federal spending, pointing out his competitor Mack pushed earmark projects.
Sunshine State News was one of many media outlets covering the event, noting:
“Arguing that Obama in the White House and a Democratic majority in the Senate are hurting the nation, LeMieux said Nelson had to go. ‘We’re never going to save America if Harry Reid is running the U.S. Senate,’ LeMieux said, adding he would ‘stand toe to toe with Bill Nelson’ on taxes, spending, foreign policy, terrorism and health care.”
LeMieux made time to talk to many members during the conference, and he appeared comfortable answering questions about working with former Gov. Charlie Crist who left the Republican Party. LeMieux endorsed Crist’s challenger, now-Sen. Marco Rubio, for a US Senate seat.
LeMieux also promised he would vote for term limits and he would even term limit himself.
FFRW president Cindy Graves presided over the conference that drew record attendance as it has in years past. Graves said, "To host such a tremendous event has been an honor for the members of the Florida Federation of Republican Women. Congratulations to Senator LeMieux and heartfelt thanks to Congressman Connie Mack and Col. Mike McCalister for participating. We are invigorated and motivated to fight hard to defeat Senator Nelson.”
Graves reiterated the fact that while the straw poll indicated the feelings of the GOP women leadership, the results do not constitute an endorsement.
The straw poll is significant because FFRW clubs around the state organize volunteers and events for candidates once the nominee is selected. Republican women were key influencers in assisting Rubio with his successful Senate bid. The GOP leadership views the Florida Senate race as a key national race in reforming the US Senate.
LeMieux has remained neutral about a preference for the GOP presidential nomination. Mack has endorsed former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney.
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