Haridopolos Lands Big Endorsement From Rep. Connie Mack

Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos’ campaign for U.S. Senate received a major boost Monday, winning an endorsement from U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV of Florida — scion of one of the Sunshine State's most important political families.

Mack, the son of popular two-term U.S. Sen. Connie Mack of Florida, issued a statement announcing the endorsement. He slammed incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson for supporting high-speed rail in Florida, adding: “Bill Nelson can no longer be trusted with our tax dollars.”

Mack’s endorsement adds to the Haridopolos campaign’s growing roster of high-profile political supporters. The campaign already has garnered endorsements from Florida Agricultural Commissioner Adam Putnam, Florida Chief Financial Officer Jeff Atwater, and Fox News host and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee.

Haridopolos praised Mack’s “dedication to being a strong champion for limited government and freedom,” adding, “He has been a champion of reforming government and promoting fiscal discipline both in Florida and Washington, D.C. I look forward to having Connie with me on the campaign trail.”

In a statement announcing the endorsement, Mack said: “Mike Haridopolos has confronted the challenges of our day with a steadfast commitment to freedom, limited government, and fiscal responsibility and I am proud to stand with him to put Florida and our country back on a path of economic and job growth.

“I remember fondly Mike’s participation in the Freedom Caucus in Tallahassee and his watchful eye on the state budget as president of the [Florida] Senate,” stated Mack. “I ask all Florida Republicans today to join me in my support of Mike Haridopolos for the U.S. Senate."

Haridopolos' campaign manager, Tim Baker, hailed the Mack endorsement as “another great sign of the building momentum for our positive campaign to reform Washington, D.C.”

Haridopolos’ rivals for the GOP nomination to challenge Nelson are expected to include former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux and former Florida House Speaker Adam Hasner.