Mack Wins GOP Primary to Face Democrat Nelson
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
By: Tom Parkinson

August 15, 2012 | WMFE - U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV easily won the Republican primary in Florida's US Senate race Tuesday. Mack won with 58 percent of the vote. His closest competitor, former Congressman Dave Weldon, garnered only about 20 percent with Former Army Col. Mike McCallister coming in at third place with 14 percent. On the Democratic ballot, incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson won nearly 80 percent of the vote, far ahead of his only opponent, businessman Glenn Burkett.

The race has attracted national attention and millions of dollars in donations for the campaigns of both Nelson and Mack.

After his victory last night, Mack said he expected that jobs and the economy would be the major issues as the race heads toward November. Nelson said those issues would be important but said, Florida’s seniors want to hear the candidates debate the issues of Medicare and Social Security.

Congressman Mack will try to win back the seat once held by his father, former Sen. Connie Mack III.

Nelson won the Senate seat in 2000 after the elder Mack retired.