Republican presidential hopeful former Gov. Mitt Romney of Massachusetts unveiled his team of county chairs for Florida on Wednesday.

“In order to win in January, and defeat President Obama in November, my campaign will need the hard work of these Florida county chairs,” said Romney, who is fighting former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich to lead national polls. “Their work on the ground, reaching out to voters, will be important as I campaign to spread my pro-growth message and bring jobs back to Florida.”

“This impressive group only adds to Mitt Romney’s strong team in Florida,” Florida Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam said in a statement. Putnam endorsed Romney earlier in the year. “Defeating President Obama will not be easy, but with the hard work of our team in Florida and Mitt Romney’s conservative record of leadership and results, we will be successful in November.”

Romney, who placed second in the 2008 Florida primary behind John McCain, has won the backing of some of the leading Republican activists and leaders in the Sunshine State.

Sheriff David Gee will be leading Romney’s team in Hillsborough County while Sheriff Mike Adkinson will be co-chairing the campaign in Walton County.

Having carried Duval County in 2008, Romney is looking to continue doing well on the First Coast. His leadership team for Duval County includes Rep. Daniel Davis, R-Jacksonville, and longtime First Coast leader and fundraiser Mike Hightower. Rick Mullaney, who ran for mayor in Jacksonville last year, is also on Romney’s team.

St. Petersburg Mayor Bill Foster and Mayor Frank Hibbard of Clearwater will be leading Romney’s team in Pinellas County.

While U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas is surging in polls in Iowa, which holds its caucus in less than two weeks, Romney continues to duke it out with Gingrich to lead the national polls. Romney also leads in the polls of New Hampshire, which will hold its primary a week after the Iowa caucus. Florida will hold its primary on Jan. 31 after the Iowa caucus and New Hampshire and South Carolina primaries.

 

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