Given Nelson has voted for every single liberal program and all the big spending, he might well expect a tough go of it and hopefully, he will not be re-elected. I was pleased to see many names in the offing to take him on in 2012.

Submitted by Abel Harding on December 7, 2010 - 10:40am

The first shots in the 2012 race for Florida's U.S. Senate seat have already been fired and they aren't coming from Republicans. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee, bracing for an expected tough re-election battle for Sen. Bill Nelson, took a shot at a probable Republican contender, state Senate President Mike Haridopolos.

Haridopolos, who has previously said a bid for the U.S. Senate is likely, pled guilty to violating Florida ethics last week. State Sen. John Thrasher, a Haridopolos ally, chairs the panel that will decide his fate. Democrats wasted no time in jumping on the news.

"Mike Haridopolos’ arrogance reached a new level when he kicked off a likely Senate bid by pleading guilty to breaking Florida ethics laws,” said DSCC National Press Secretary Deirdre Murphy. “If Haridopolos’ miserable first week as a likely candidate is any harbinger for the future, he’s got a lot of explaining to do to Florida voters.”

Haridopolos is likely to face tough competition should he decide to challenge Nelson. Outgoing U.S. Sen. George LeMieux has said he'll decide after the beginning of the year whether he'll run, but he seems likely to jump in. U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV has also expressed interest in the race. Additionally, state Rep. Adam Hasner and U.S. Rep. Daniel Webster have had their names bandied about, among others.

But one of the more intruiging elements was a Facebook post by renegade Republican State Sen. Paula Dockery. Dockery posted a link to the DSCC's criticism of Haridopolos. That raises the question of whether or not the former gubernatorial contendor is planning a run herself.

Stay tuned.

http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/403455/abel-harding/2010-12-07...