Republican presidential hopeful Mitt Romney attends a Super Tuesday Republican primary elections evening in Boston, Massaschusetts, March 6, 2012. Republican voters made their way to the polls in the Super Tuesday primary elections in 10 states and 437 delegates at stake. (Photo credit: EMMANUEL DUNAND/AFP/Getty Images)
Reporting Tim Kephart
Legislative Session Coverage
MIAMI (CBSMiami) – Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney has weighed on the Republican campaign to face U.S. Senator Bill Nelson in November. Romney gave his endorsement to Representative Connie Mack, IV Wednesday afternoon.
Romney called Mack “a friend, strong conservative and the type of principled leader we need in Washington to restore fiscal responsibility.”
Mack’s just about wrapped up the Republican nomination. His only competition of note came from former U.S. Senator George LeMieux. Then-Governor Charlie Crist nominated LeMieux to take over for Mel Martinez in 2009-2010.
But, LeMieux’s connection with the more moderate Crist has given ultra conservatives an easy way to paint LeMieux as too moderate for the current climate in Washington. LeMieux bolstered his conservative image some in 2010 when he backed Rick Scott for governor over Crist.
Mack will seek to tie Nelson to President Barack Obama’s policies. In his press releases, Mack always mentions Obama when he talks about Nelson. By doing so, he’s trying to attach Obama’s unpopularity in some voting groups to Nelson.
