RSS Feed of the blog
Contributors:
Reporter William March has covered state and national politics since 1994. Email
Reporter Mike Salinero has covered Hillsborough County government since 2007. Email
TBO RNC 2012 Section
Florida Political Blogs:
Most Recent Entries
- Gov. Scott to sign texting while driving ban
- Trial of ex-Carroll aide, set for this week, is delayed
- Tampa Dems bring $$ for a Panhandle candidate—her name’s Graham
- Gaetz: Weatherford should be governor, senator “or even higher”
- New catch phrase for Scott? ‘It’s under review’
- Nelson, 501(c)(4) attack victim, says enforcing law would have prevent scandal
- Rich gets NOW endorsement
- Emily’s List again backs Ehrlich
- Jaroch: Tampa 912 “one of the first ones targeted”
- GOP Hispanic outreach official switches parties
- Castor, Crist, local Dems raise $$ for Graham’s daughter
- Joyner designated Senate Democratic leader
- Castor to Obama: Reform “outdated” Cuba embargo, travel ban
- U.S. House Dems send Weatherford letter re Medicaid
- La Gaceta ad, 300 signers, back Castor trip to Cuba
More
- Breaking News
-
Z Archive
- Back To School
- Allnighter For An iPhone
- 2008 Florida Primary
- A Killer's Grip: The Day Of Execution
- Al-Arian Trial
- Ask The Professor
- Back to College with Adam Emerson
- Baird Helgeson In Key West
- Behind The Crime
- Behind The Wheel
- Boot Camp Death: The Trial
- Branding Tampa
- Business & Careers
- Bus Money
- Civil Rights Movement
- Castro Resigns: Bay Area Reacts
- Coming Back From Extremes
- Couey Trial
- Consumer Updates With Stacie Schaible
- Convention Ears
- Day Without An Immigrant
- Destruction In Central Florida
- Dick Greco
- Diminishing Agriculture in Florida
- Driver's Licensing Soundoff
- Election Connection With Krista Klaus
- Election Day Updates
- Elevated Crosstown Opens
- Governor's Inauguration 2007
- Good Friday For Skipping School
- Great American Teach-In
- Guestbook - Al Lopez
- Guestbook - Gators Are National Champs
- Guestbook - James Dungy
- Higher Gas Prices, Higher Profits For Oil Companies
- Highlands News Updates
- Holiday Blog
- Holiday Office Parties
- Hurricane Guide Updates
- I-4 Traffic
- Insurance Protest Hits The Road
- I-75 Tanker Accident Leads To Traffic Snarls
- International AIDS Conference
- Lafave Plea Deal
- Interstate 4 Disaster
- Largo City Manager Update
- Life - As It Happens
- Live From Cuba
- Life 2.0
- Medicare Part D - Countdown
- Memorial Day Travel
- Memories Of Sea Wolf Restaurant
- Pasco County: What Makes It Special?
- Pasco Health Care
- Out Of The Park
- Plugged In with Jim Collins
- Polk County News Blog
- Politics 2.0
- Primary Voting Day
- Rising Gas Prices
- Saint Leo Trip
- Black Friday Shopping
- Shuttle Updates
- Smoky Skies
- Steele Murder Trial
- Target 8 With Steve Andrews
- The Crime Blog
- Onstott Trial
- The Road To City Hall
- The Weather Spot
- Traffic Tickets Backlog
- Training Videos
- View From The Stands
- War Stories
- Weather Dog
- Command Post Tampa
- Fact Finders - Databay Blog
- Guestbook: Remembering The Fallen Soldiers
- Fresh Squeezed Politics
- RNC 2012: The Road to Tampa
- Political Safari
Monthly Archives
Weldon jumps into Senate race
Posted May 18, 2012 by William March
Updated May 18, 2012 at 06:26 PM
Former Space Coast congressman Dave Weldon has announced he’s jumping into the tangled Republican U.S. Senate primary.
Weldon, a Melbourne physician, served seven terms in the House from 1995-2008, where he was known as a strong supporter of Israel and a zealous pro-lifer and social conservative. His website describes him as “a true, authentic conservative.”
In a news release announcing his candidacy, he attacked the Obama administration, not mentioning his GOP primary opponents or Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson, whom the primary winner will face in November.
“Someone has to do something to provide a Conservative answer to the problems the Administration has created and the current Senate has endorsed,” he said. “It’s time to stop the spending and balance the budget again. Together, we can change Washington – I helped do it once – and I can help do it again.”
Weldon campaign spokesman Hogan Gidley, a South Carolinian who’s fresh off the Rick Santorum presidential campaign, said Weldon differs from the current GOP Senate candidates because he offers “Authentic conservatism ... You need somebody out there who’s espousing conservatism. Right now we have two people in the race who by all accounts are fairly moderate,” referring to Connie Mack IV and George LeMieux.
His candidacy, however, further tangles the already confusing Republican Senate primary, which will produce a nominee to face Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson in November.
It comes as Rep. Connie Mack IV of Fort Myers appears to be solidifying his position as frontrunner, with an endorsement Wednesday from presumptive presidential nominee Mitt Romney. Former appointed Sen. George LeMieux trails, but is still waging a vigorous campaign.
Weldon will start off at a disadvantage, joining the race late and behind the other Republicans in fundraising, but may benefit from Republican dissatisfaction with the current field.
Gidley said Weldon is “well aware of the obstacles in his path,” but, “You can make up a lot of time and a lot of deficiencies with a great message and a great candidate. It just takes one spark to start a fire.”
He said Weldon isn’t wasting time, starting to campaign this weekend. He’s expected to attend a local Republican Party picnic Saturday at Medard Park in Plant City, which will include a straw vote in the Senate primary.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater last month announced he was considering jumping into the race, but decided against it.
Three other prominent Republicans, including state Senate President Mike Haridopolos, have dropped out of the race over the last year, and the current frontrunner, Rep. Connie Mack of Fort Myers, entered the race in November after have ruled it out last spring.
Post a comment
Members:(Requires free registration.)
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.
Reader Comments