Less than three months before the Aug. 14 GOP primary, former Space Coast Republican Rep. Dave Weldon has entered the Republican race for U.S. Senate, joining frontrunners Connie Mack and George LeMieux.

Weldon’s announcement doesn’t mention Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, but criticizes President Obama and mentions “tough choices that will determine our national direction for the next 4 years,” even though Senate terms are six years. The Weldon campaign also released an Obama-slamming video that doesn’t mention Nelson.

Weldon, a physician, was elected to Congress in the Republican wave of 1994. He opted not to seek reelection in 2008. In the House, he had a reputation as a friend of Israel and foe of abortion who had a lifetime 92.5 percent rating from the American Conservative Union.

Nelson was once considered a top GOP target. But a shifting GOP field (Adam Hasner, Mike Haridopolos and Craig Miller have dropped out; Mack declared himself out in early 2011 before jumping in later in the year) and an increasingly nasty fight between Mack and LeMieux have soured Republican hopes.

Democrats responded gleefully to the Weldon news.

“The fact that there’s still so much turmoil in the Republican field less than six months from Election Day speaks volumes about their party’s challenges in Florida,” said Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee press secretary Shripal Shah.

Read Weldon’s announcement statement after the jump.

Senate campaign announcement from former U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon:

Orlando, FL – Former Florida Congressman, Dr. Dave Weldon announced today that he will run for the United States Senate.

Dr. Dave Weldon said, “We are at a time in our nation’s history where we the people have to make tough choices that will determine our national direction for the next 4 years . . . choices that determine Americas direction for decades.

Many Floridians feel President Obama has traded America’s greatness for international
acceptance, turned his back on our Constitution and the intentions of our founding fathers and crushed the economic engine that helped make America great.”

Weldon served Florida’s 15th District as a Congressman in 1995 – and became part of the first Republican majority in the U. S. House in 40 years. During his time in Congress, Weldon stood up for conservative values and cut spending, reduced taxes and reformed welfare. In fact, they were even able to balance the budget and create surpluses.

Dr. Weldon said he enjoys practicing medicine and that he wasn’t looking to change his life and return to Washington – however, he said he just couldn’t sit on the sidelines anymore and watch our freedoms being systematically stripped away.

Weldon said, “Someone has to do something to provide a Conservative answer to the problems the Administration has created and the current Senate has endorsed. We can’t keep racking up debt and placing it on the backs of our children. It’s time to stop the spending and balance the budget again. Together, we can change Washington – I helped do it once – and I can help do it again.”

Tags: Dave Weldon

This entry was posted on Friday, May 18th, 2012 at 3:40 pm and is filed under 2012 campaigns, Bill Nelson, Connie Mack, George Bennett, George LeMieux. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.