Brevard Community College Florida

State Senate President Mike Haridopolos drops out of race for US Senate

Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos' star-crossed campaign for U.S. Senate ended unexpectedly Monday morning, following months of missteps and the recent departure of his two top staffers.

Haridopolos said he underestimated the difficulties of running for the U.S. Senate and running the state Senate with the first legislative committee weeks scheduled for September.

"It became increasingly clear to me, and those around me, that the responsibilities I was managing on both fronts are in conflict. I truly believed I could handle both jobs, but I was wrong. Now I am determined to make it right," said Haridopolos, a Republican.

"Today, I am announcing that I will no longer be a candidate for the United States Senate, nor will I seek any other office this year or next. Instead, I am rededicating myself to finishing the job you sent me to do here in Florida," he said.

The Senate field now includes Adam Hasner, George LeMieux, Mike McCalister and Craig Miller, the latest entry into a race. The Republicans are vying to take on incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in November 2012.

At this early stage, it's unclear who benefits from Haridopolos' departure in the wide-open race where no candidate has clearly distinguished himself. LeMieux sought to capitalize on the news first, posting on Twitter that he invited any of Haridopolos' supporters to back his campaign. He also used the resignation as a fundraising pitch — as did Hasner, who blasted LeMieux for his associations with former Gov. Charlie Crist.

Republican consultant Brett Doster said Hasner should benefit in the long run because he can now more easily liken his campaign to the race of Sen. Marco Rubio.

"With Haridopolos out, Hasner can more easily reshape this race as a repeat of the Crist vs. Rubio fight," he said. "And the similarities are striking."

The announcement by Haridopolos, who had a series of public-relations stumbles magnified by his Senate presidency, followed last week's departure of longtime campaign adviser Pat Bainter and his campaign manager, Tim Baker. Bainter wouldn't comment. Baker had issued a statement last week saying the campaign was in good shape.

Now Haridopolos plans to refund donor dollars after paying off campaign debts.

Haridopolos made his decision to drop out over the weekend as his family celebrated his father's 80th birthday. He said he was surprised by the "level of vitriol" during the legislative session, which ended in May, and the fact that virtually every move he made was viewed through the political lens of his U.S. Senate campaign — and then questioned and attacked.

Electronic Book | Florida GOP Legislator Quits Senate Race

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., July 18 (UPI) — Florida state Senate President Mike Haridopolos forsaken out disagreement for a U.S. Senate chair Monday, adage he could not hoop both purposes at the same time.

“It became increasingly coherent to me, and the around me, that the responsibilities we was handling on both fronts are in conflict,” he said.

The matter followed the handing over of tip promotion aides.

The outstanding leading Republican possibilities looking to dare obligatory Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., are Adam Hasner, George LeMieux , Mike McCalister and Craig Miller.

Republican Gov. Rick Scott mentioned he regretted the leaving of “a scrupulous regressive similar to Mike Haridopolos.”

LeMieux, a one-time allocated U.S. senator, welcomed Haridopolos supporters to come together his campaign.

Haridopolos is beneath glow from his own celebration for his administration of the Senate and became the initial sitting Senate boss in Florida to be reprimanded by his own cover for steady failures to divulge his funds properly, The Miami Herald reported.

He moreover was criticized for getting $152,000 from Brevard Community College, where he taught, for an electronic book on the Florida Legislature.

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