U.S. Congressman Connie Mack Takes On Incumbent Bill Nelson In Senate Race

MIAMI (CBS4) - Congressman Connie Mack has spent 8 years in the U.S. House of Representatives.

This election cycle, he has set his sights on the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Democrat Bill Nelson.

Mack says his goal is to bring more jobs to Florida by cutting taxes and reducing regulations on small businesses.

"The cost of those fees and those permits drown businesses," Mack told CBS 4 News. "Senator Nelson supports more taxes and more regulations that makes it almost impossible for small businesses to grow."

At a debate last week Nelson chided Mack over his record in Congress.

"You have one of the worst voting records," Nelson said at the debate held at Nova Southeastern University in Davie.

But Mack fired back that he's actually got a better voting record than Nelson, saying he's voted 94% of the time to Nelson's 92%.

"He is a typical a career politician [who's] got nothing to offer the people of State of Florida other than smearing my record and not being truthful with the people," Mack said.

The race has featured many attack ads -- with Mack painting Nelson as someone who votes consistently with President Obama, calling Nelson a "lockstep liberal."

If elected to the Senate, Mack says he will vote to repeal Obamacare, which he voted against, and be a staunch supporter of gun rights.

Mack also says he has a plan to balance the budget, which calls for spending cuts of one percent per year for 6 years.

"We can pass this budget, balance our budget and start paying down our debt," Mack said.

Polls have shown Nelson with a healthy lead over Mack for most of the campaign. But a new poll out this week shows the race is tightening.

Mack says he plans to crisscross the state in the two weeks leading up to election day building support for his campaign.