U.S. Rep. Connie Mack got a boost for his bid to challenge Democrat incumbent U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November when he won heavy praise from former Gov. Mitt Romney, the presumptive Republican presidential candidate -- but another Republican could be entering the contest soon.

Campaigning in St. Petersburg on Wednesday, Romney announced that he was endorsing Mack who has been a longtime supporter of his presidential ambitions.

“Connie Mack is a friend, a strong conservative and the type of principled leader we need in Washington to restore fiscal responsibility,” Romney said on Wednesday. “By electing Connie Mack, the people of Florida will be sending a clear message to Senator Nelson and President Obama that their failed policies have not worked to change the borrow-and-spend ways of Washington.”

Mack praised Romney and pointed to his big win over his rivals in the Florida Republican presidential primary at the end of January.

“Mitt Romney's leadership will put the country back on the road to freedom and prosperity, and Floridians made that clear on Jan. 31,” Mack insisted. “Having the endorsement of the next president of the United States is truly humbling, and together we will fight for our shared conservative vision for Florida and the nation.

"Mitt Romney and I believe the best ideas come from people, not from government, and that is something we discussed at length on our journey throughout Florida in January. Conservatives across the nation know the road to retaking both the White House and the Senate must include victories at every level of the Florida GOP ticket in November, and today is another large step in building our united front against the ‘lockstep liberal’ agenda of Bill Nelson and Barack Obama."

While Mack emerged with the support of the man who is the overwhelming favorite to lead the GOP in 2012, he does not have an open shot at the Republican nomination to take on Nelson. Former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux and retired Army officer and businessman Mike McCalister, who pulled more than 10 percent in the 2010 gubernatorial primary, are also running for the Republican nomination.

Mack may have to face another candidate in the Republican primary -- former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon who represented parts of the Space Coast for almost a decade and a half in Congress. Reports emerged last week that Weldon was considering entering the primary and his team is working on a new website for a potential campaign. Sources have informed Sunshine State News this week that they expect the former congressman to announce a Senate bid after the website is set up.

If he runs, Weldon is expected to attempt to run to the right of both LeMieux and Mack. Weldon has already brought John Brabender, the political strategist who guided Rick Santorum’s recent run for the Republican presidential nomination, on board as a consultant.



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