A National Conservative Examiner Exclusive
Republican contenders for the party’s presidential nomination dominate the current news cycle, but Florida’s Republican women have their eyes on a key race in the US Senate. The nominee will challenge a Democrat, Sen. Bill Nelson, for the seat.
Three contenders will square off in a first-ever Florida Senate debate during the Florida Federation of Republican Women conference in Tallahassee. The debate will be held on Sunday, Feb. 19, the second day of a 4-day conference.
Participants include the 3 candidates who are currently polling nationally: former Sen. George LeMieux, former Rep. Connie Mack and newcomer to politics Col. Mike McCallister. Former (state) Rep. Adam Hasner had been scheduled, but he decided to run for a US House of Representatives seat instead.
FFRW president Cindy Graves said a “stringent and fair set of guidelines” was developed for selecting the debate participants.
FFRW is affiliated with the National Federation of Republican Women (NFRW), a grassroots organization of more than 100,000 women throughout the U.S.
Graves suggested the debate won’t be a dull affair. She told National Conservative Examiner, “These aren’t going to be 20-minute speeches. This isn’t a campaign stop.” Questions about issues like foreign policy, the federal budget and nationalized healthcare are being solicited from the membership.
FFRW worked actively to elect candidates like popular US Sen. Marco Rubio. Journalists who cover any FFRW gatherings soon realize the women are very informed and often take the lead in organizing support for Republican candidates. These women are also, to say the least, outspoken.
Graves told Examiner:
“Bill Nelson has largely ducked the national issues of our time including balancing the budget, reducing the national debt, eliminating earmarks, securing our borders and dealing with the failures of Medicare and social security. He has also failed miserably in the one area he should have been successful – saving Florida's space program in his own backyard. He prefers to vote with Obama on liberal social issues rather than tackle the tough issues.”
Democrats have faced criticism from both the Left and the Right for their failure to produce a budget in the more than 1,000 days their party has had control of the Senate.
Because McCallister hasn’t held a federal office, there’s no data on his voting record.
Mack’s record as a House member and selected writings are compiled at Project Vote Smart. Mack has an American Conservative Union lifetime score of 93 percent as of 2010. Mack is supporting former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney for president. Mack has served in the US House since 2004.
LeMieux has remained neutral regarding the Republican Presidential Nomination. He was appointed to his Senate seat when another Republican senator resigned.
LeMieux was outspoken in the fight against the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare) passed by Democrats. He has a lifetime rating of 89 percent from the ACU, but he served only part of a full term because he was appointed and that score would likely have adjusted with a longer term. Project Vote Smart also provides in-depth information about LeMieux’s votes and selected writings.
Mack is currently ahead in the race according to polls averaged at Real Clear Politics.
At the end of 2011, LeMieux was ahead in fundraising.
The Federal Election Commission lists campaign funds totals for all the candidates running for the Senate nomination as of end of the final quarter for 2011.
“The importance of this Senate seat cannot be underestimated. The women of Florida know we need more than an empty suit in Washington,” said Graves. “Replacing the failed leadership of Bill Nelson is equally—if not more—vital to Florida’s economy, national security and our citizens’ future healthcare.”
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