U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson is the latest party leader to back Kendrick Meek in Florida’s U.S. Senate race, an indication that the party is uniting behind Meek despite questions about whether he can beat Gov. Charlie Crist, his likely Republican opponent, in a general election race.

Meek has now been endorsed by Nelson, the party’s senior elected official; Alex Sink, the presumptive Democratic nominee for governor; Bob Graham, the party’s preeminent elder statesman; and several Democratic congress members including Kathy Castor of Tampa.

Meek hasn’t succeeded in scaring off competition for his party’s Senate nomination, as Sink has done in the governor’s race. Former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre entered the primary race against Meek earlier this month.

Meek, who has never run a statewide race, likely would face either Crist or Republican challenger Marco Rubio in the November general election. Either would provide a tough challenge for Meek; many party activists aren’t convinced he could beat Crist, who maintains high popularity ratings among Democrats and no-party voters, and is one of the best political fundraisers in state history.

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