FL-SEN

GOPer Haridopolos Suddenly Drops Out Of Florida Senate Race

Eric Kleefeld | July 18, 2011, 11:16AM

Florida State Senate President Mike Haridopolos (R)

The Republican field in Florida to take on Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson just got shaken up, with state Senate President Mike Haridopolos, a frontrunner in the race, suddenly dropping out after previously strong (but diminishing) fundraising.

The St. Petersburg Times reports: "In an increasingly crowded race to unseat Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson, Haridopolos' campaign showed signs of stalling. Just last week came news that political adviser Pat Bainter was leaving the campaign along with de facto campaign manager and spokesman, Tim Baker."

Haridopolos previously led in the money race, taking in $2.5 million in the first quarter. However, his fundraising in the second quarter dropped sharply to $900,000, followed by former Sen. George LeMieux (who was appointed by then-Republican Gov. Charlie Crist in 2009, and did not seek a full term, before Crist became an independent) at $900,000, followed by former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner at $560,000.

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Cap-and-Trade

Republican Senate Candidate Attacks Opponent For Supporting Cap-And-Trade Plan HE Helped Write

Brian Beutler | June 9, 2011, 2:22PM

Updated 6:45 p.m.

Republican Senate candidate Adam Hasner is attacking one of his primary opponents by linking him to a stalled cap-and-trade climate change law in Florida. That may sound like par for the course in GOP politics except for one small problem: Hasner co-sponsored that bill, and praised it publicly when it passed the state legislature.

In a press release attacking Republican candidate George Lemieux -- who already served in the Senate in an interim capacity after Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) resigned -- Hasner tied his opponent to a cap-and-trade initiative spearheaded by former Governor Charlie Crist.

Like many Republicans, though, Hasner knows a thing or two about supporting cap and trade in the pre-Obama era.

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2012 elections

Poll: Jeb Bush Leads Bill Nelson In Hypothetical FL-SEN Race

Jon Terbush | December 21, 2010, 4:47PM

Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush (R)

Jeb Bush may not be considering a return to elective politics, but if he were, a Senate seat could well be within his reach.

In a PPP poll released today, Bush was the only Republican to lead Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL) in theoretical 2012 matchups. The poll found that 49% of respondents said they would vote for Bush if he ran for the seat, while 44% said they would vote for Nelson.

Rep. Connie Mack was the only other candidate tested in the survey to come within single digits of Nelson, polling just eight points behind, 44% to 36%. Sen. George LeMieux -- who was appointed to fill the Senate seat vacated by Mel Martinez in 2009, but who did not seek reelection this year -- trailed Nelson 47% to 36%, while Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos polled 12 points behind Nelson, 44% to 32%. Against State Rep. Adam Hasner, Nelson led 46% to 30% in the poll.

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