The most crucial part of this three minute plus video is this:
The establishment has thrown their support behind my competitor, Connie Mack. Ahead of us in the polls, the Mack name enjoys widespread recognition that can only be matched with substantial advertising or the opportunity to debate on statewide television.
Advertising, which our finances cannot support, and debates, which my competitor won?t agree to.
It is not my nature to step aside, but there is a reality to running a statewide race in Florida. Without the resources or the opportunity to debate, our message simply cannot be heard.
Connie Mack has been derided across the state for his failure to debate LeMieux and the other candidates in the race (Dave Weldon and Mike McCalister), but there are only two scheduled that would be televised statewide. So is that a legit excuse in late June?
As far as not having the finances to run a statewide campaign, whose fault is that?
Look, there's no question that the Republican Party of Florida and the national party (perhaps foolishly?) has put all their support behind Mack. Why? It's not that he's been a great congressman. But he's got that name recognition which has enabled him to catapult into the lead ever since he decided to enter the race late last year.
Perhaps the final blow was yesterday, when FreedomWorks PAC, the Tea Party-friendly group led by former House Majority Leader Dick Armey, came out and endorsed Mack.
In a statement, ? FreedomWorks PAC executive director Max Pappas said:
?George LeMieux boastfully identified himself as a ?Charlie Christ Republican? while he worked with Democrats to advance subsidies, environmental mandates and multiple bills expanding the authority of government. Connie Mack took bold positions to hold government accountable when very few others would, voting twice against the TARP bailout, fighting stimulus spending, and introducing common-sense reforms like the ?Penny Plan,? which is one of the most innovative reforms FreedomWorks PAC has ever seen.?
