A Florida Senate Primer

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American Spectator:

TAMPA -- The candidates for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination in Florida clearly believe red-meat conservatism will be the favored flavor among R primary voters in 2012, as it was in 2010. They're probably correct.

Whether unapologetic conservatism is the key to beating liberal Democratic (pardon the redundancy) incumbent Bill Nelson in the general election is still unclear. In the few polls taken so far, "generic Republican" is competitive against Nelson, while the four actually running don't do so swell. But it's early.

In 2010 former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio, now U.S. Senator Marco Rubio, came out of right field to beat the establishment's candidate, formerly popular Florida Charlie Crist, by 20 points. He was the most conservative state-wide victor Florida has seen in several cycles. Three Republicans won cabinet posts in 2010 pushing conservative agendas. The state's U.S. House delegation became more R, a one-sided 19-6 majority now for the GOP. Bite-your-ankles conservative Republican Allen West even defeated a Democratic incumbent in limousine-liberal Palm Beach County.

Republicans eager to strap on Nelson include Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos, former U.S. Senator George LeMieux, and former Florida House Majority Leader Adam Hasner. Orlando area steak-house restaurateur Craig Miller, oh-for-one in congressional races, says he'll decide soon whether to add his name to the Senate menu. Mike McCalister, a Tea-Party friendly retired Army colonel, has also thrown his hat in, but showed little ability to attract votes or attention in his 2010 race for governor.