State Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, received a boost on Monday in his bid for the Republican nomination to take on Democratic U.S. Senate incumbent Bill Nelson in 2012 when state Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam endorsed his candidacy.

Putnam announced his support for the state Senate president, calling Haridopolos "a true leader who has proven he will take on the tough issues that face our nation and is the conservative who can win this race."

“Mike's conservative leadership has resulted in much-needed reforms to government that will pave the way for the entrepreneurs and small business to start hiring again,” said Putnam. “As a former congressman and state legislator, I know that Mike Haridopolos has what it takes to tackle the debt and spending problems in Washington because he has a record of accomplishment in Florida when it comes to balancing budgets and restraining government spending,"

The endorsement is something of a coup for the state Senate president. Haridopolos was previously endorsed by his predecessor and current CFO Jeff Atwater, as well as Florida House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park. Atwater and Putnam garnered the most votes of any of the candidates from either party seeking statewide office in 2010, with both of them getting more than 2.9 million votes each against their Democratic opponents. Putnam, who served five terms in Congress before running for his current position, and is only 36, is widely considered to be a possible candidate for higher office in the future.

Thanking Putnam, Haridopolos lashed out at Nelson and the Democratic leadership in Congress.

"I'm humbled to have the support of Commissioner Putnam, who has devoted his life to public service and has been an incredible voice of conservative leadership in Florida for decades," said Haridopolos. "Commissioner Putnam's support and advice is so important because he has a unique understanding of the challenges we face in Washington, having served in the highest elected leadership position any Floridian of either party has held in Washington, while opposing Nancy Pelosi's liberal agenda.

"Just as Commissioner Putnam fought Nancy Pelosi’s extreme liberal agenda, I am dedicated to fighting Harry Reid and Bill Nelson’s extreme, do-nothing, liberal agenda,” added Haridopolos.

Haridopolos is facing former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner, and retired Army officer and businessman Mike McCalister in the Republican primary.


Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341. Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859 .