The two leading Republicans aiming to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November looked to advance their campaigns on Tuesday in very different ways.

Congressman Connie Mack, whose father held the Senate seat for 12 years before stepping down in 2000 when Nelson won it, released a radio ad on Tuesday that will run across the Sunshine State.

In the ad, Mack takes aim at President Barack Obama and Nelson on gas prices, slamming the two Democrats for opposing the Keystone XL Pipeline which would bring oil into America from Canada.

“Rising gas prices hurt families and kill jobs. That’s a fact,” the announcer says in the ad. “Still, the ‘lockstep liberals,’ Barack Obama and Bill Nelson, refuse to build the Keystone pipeline. That pipeline would bring Canadian oil to America. It’s energy we desperately need. The pipeline would create thousands of jobs and make America less dependent on Middle Eastern oil.
 
“But President Obama and Senator Nelson are afraid of the political clout of a few left-wing environmental extremists,” continues the announcer before asking Floridians to “stop the extremists by signing Connie Mack’s petition to force Washington to build the Keystone pipeline.”

Also on Tuesday, Mack’s chief primary rival, former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, trotted out a different tactic. While Mack is hitting the airwaves, LeMieux is looking to hone his ground game. LeMieux, who served 16 months in the Senate after being appointed to it by then-Gov. Charlie Crist before he left the GOP to run for the Senate seat with no party affiliation, unveiled his grassroots team with leaders named for all 67 counties in the Sunshine State.

Some of LeMieux’s chairmen will be overseeing two counties -- the former senator has more than one chairman in some of the more populated counties. Deborah Cox-Roush, the former vice chairwoman of the Republican Party of Florida, was named as LeMieux’s honorary grassroots chairwoman.

“Our team is the backbone of our grassroots effort,” LeMieux said in a statement on Tuesday. “Having strong, active Republicans representing our campaign in every county is invaluable. With the help of these great activists, we will successfully spread our message of fiscal restraint and smaller government to every part of Florida.”

"Our state and our country can no longer afford Bill Nelson in the U.S. Senate, and that’s why I’m endorsing George LeMieux," said Cox-Roush. "Once again, all eyes will be on Florida this election and we need to ensure the Republican candidate represents our state and country well. George is a man of character and conviction, a proven fiscal conservative, and a strong leader. We need George in the U.S. Senate, and with the help of our grassroots team we will have the organization and support necessary to accomplish our goal.”

Businessman and retired Army officer Mike McCalister, who took more than 10 percent when he ran for the Republican gubernatorial nomination back in 2010, is also seeking the Senate nomination.



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