Florida Democrats Weigh in on Presidency 5 Senate Forum
Friday, September 23, 2011
By: Nicole Creston

Sept. 23, 2011 | WMFE - GOP candidates for Florida's US Senate seat go head-to-head Friday as the Republican Presidency 5 event continues in Orlando. Thousands of Republicans are expected at the Orange County Convention Center to hear from the contenders...and Florida Democrats say, they'll be listening, too.

Former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, former US Senator George LeMieux, retired Army Colonel Mike McCallister, and former Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse owner Craig Miller are all vying for the chance to unseat the incumbent Democrat, long-time Florida US Senator Bill Nelson.

Florida Democratic Party Chair Rod Smith says that’ll be no easy task. “I can tell you that the first decision that has to happen is people have to decide to fire the incumbent,” he says. “And I don’t think people in Florida are ready to fire Bill Nelson.”

Smith also says President Obama will probably take some lumps from the Republican US Senate candidates, but Senator Nelson will be happy to have Mr. Obama at his side.

“I think Senator Nelson and the president will campaign throughout the state, corner to corner, up and down,” says Smith. “That would be my guess.”

The Presidency 5 event wraps up this weekend with a presidential straw poll.