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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FL-SEN

Crist Switching To Independent: 'If You're Going To Do It, Do It'

Eric Kleefeld | April 30, 2010, 10:10AM

Governor Charlie Crist (I-FL)

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist, who bolted the Republican primary for Senate yesterday to run for Senate, has now made it clear that he is an independent, not a Republican -- and he's not exactly being clear on which party he would caucus with if he makes it to the Senate.

Crist told the St. Petersburg Times that he will not keep his Republican registration, and he will instead change to independent. "Why not? If you're going to do it, do it. Let's go!," said Crist.

Which party would he caucus with, the paper asked? "The people of Florida," said Crist. "I'll caucus with anybody who will help the people of Florida."

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Republicans

While Obama's Away, The Republicans Will Play (With Lobbyists)

Evan McMorris-Santoro | April 22, 2010, 5:37PM

Sen. George LeMieux (R-FL)

President Obama was in New York City at noon today, calling on the financial industry to join with politicians in Washington trying to pass banking reform. Meanwhile, back in D.C., a group of Republican Senators was having their own discussions with business types -- but the kind of cooperation they were looking for was somewhat different.

Obama's speech was broadcast live on TV. The Republican meeting, held at the headquarters of the NRSC, was not as open to the press. In fact, an NRSC spokesperson said he didn't know it existed until I emailed him while I was standing outside the building watching a steady stream of Senators and well-heeled guests file in and out. The guests weren't talking either -- they hurried past, refusing to answer a single question about who they were or what they were doing there.

What was the big secret? A fundraiser for Florida Sen. George LeMieux's (R) "Protect America's Future" PAC featuring big name GOP Senators and lobbyists. Why the tight-lipped hustle past three reporters standing out front? Maybe the Republicans were concerned about how it looked. Or maybe they just wanted to get to the buffet.

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FL-SEN

Senator Appointed By Crist Criticizes Stimulus -- Which Crist Supported

Eric Kleefeld | March 15, 2010, 4:51PM

Sen. George Lemieux (R-FL) and Gov. Charlie Crist (R-FL)

In yet another setback for Gov. Charlie Crist's (R-FL) Senate campaign, it turns out that his former adviser who Crist himself appointed to the Senate, Sen. George LeMieux (R-FL), says he would have voted against the stimulus -- which Crist supported.

LeMieux said he would have voted against the plan, "now that we see how little of that money has stimulated the economy," according to the St. Petersburg Times. LeMieux also said, though, that he could understand why some people had supported it: "You know hindsight is 20/20 ... The sky was falling."

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FL-SEN

Maurice Ferre Gets Going In FL-Sen With Attacks On Crist

Evan McMorris-Santoro | November 27, 2009, 12:47PM

Sen. Candidate Maurice Ferre (D-FL)

Former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre announced his bid for the Democratic senate nomination in Florida back in October, but has been relatively silent since. Not anymore. Ferre has come out swinging this week, attacking Gov. Charlie Crist (R) and slamming Sen. George LeMieux (R), who Crist appointed earlier this year.

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