Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, now running in the crowded Republican primary to see who will challenge incumbent Democrat U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, sent out a message to supporters on Thursday cheering a straw poll victory from the night before.

“I have some good news to share with you. Last night, I won the Miami Young Republicans/Hialeah-Miami Lakes Republican Club straw poll with a resounding 52 percent!” LeMieux wrote. “Supporters like you made last night's straw poll win possible and will carry us to victory in 2012.”

The former senator took a shot at his former colleague in closing.

“I want to thank each of you for your support and for standing with me in the fight to replace big-spending Bill Nelson,” LeMieux wrote.