With U.S. Rep. Connie Mack looming as his likely Republican opponent in November, Democrat U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson took off the gloves to bash Republicans as “extremists” on Thursday, as he continues his efforts to win a third term.

Nelson, slightly ahead of Mack in a poll released Thursday from Quinnipiac University, kicked off efforts to raise $100,000 before the end of the second quarter on June 30. Asking supporters to donate to his campaign, Nelson responded to the news earlier this week that Sheldon Adelson, a billionaire who helped fund Newt Gingrich’s presidential bid, will be pouring in $1 million to help Mack in November.

“We learned that Republican mega-donor and casino tycoon Sheldon Adelson -- who spent millions backing Newt Gingrich in the presidential primary and now has pledged millions more to support Mitt Romney -- has set his sights on Florida,” Nelson wrote. Bashing Adelson for putting his money in “an unaccountable super-PAC,” Nelson insisted, “this money will be used to flood Florida's airwaves with insults and false accusations that distort my record and what I stand for.”

Nelson continued to attack “billionaire donors like Sheldon Adelson" who “want to keep tax breaks for their special interests."

“They want to roll back regulations on their industries,” insisted Nelson. These special interests want to loosen rules and regulations with little concern for working families and the middle class. We can't let them win.”

Nelson continued this line of attack, referring to his Republican opponents as “extremists” who would push a “radical right-wing agenda” if they take back the Senate in November.

“Extremists and their shadowy front groups have targeted me because they know they need this seat to win a Senate majority that will support their radical right-wing agenda,” Nelson wrote. “And they are relying on huge contributions from big and mostly undisclosed donors to fund their races.”

With former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux ending his Senate bid and endorsing him on Wednesday, Mack is a heavy favorite to win his party’s nomination to challenge Nelson in November. The Quinnipiac poll released on Thursday showed Mack with a comfortable lead over his remaining primary rivals -- retired Army officer and businessman Mike McCalister and former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon.

Despite LeMieux heading to the sidelines, Nelson followed with a page from LeMieux's playbook, referring to his likely Republican opponent as “Connie Mack IV” in an attempt to remind voters that the congressman is not his father who held the Senate seat for 12 years before retiring in 2000.

On Thursday, continuing to ignore his Republican rivals to focus on Nelson, Mack said he is heartened by the poll which shows many Florida voters remain undecided on the Democrat incumbent despite his many years in politics.

“Once again liberal Bill Nelson is mired in the low 40s in another statewide poll,” Mack said. “A 12-year, two-term Senate incumbent with these numbers is in serious trouble. With yesterday's news of full unity in the Florida Republican Party, Nelson's vulnerability is greater than ever.”



Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.