LeMieux: Rep. Mack hopes voters think he’s his father

Former Sen. George LeMieux (R-Fla.) accused his Senate primary opponent, Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.), of exploiting the name recognition and popularity of his father, a former Florida senator of the same name.

“He’s trying to run a campaign where people will mistake him for his father,” LeMieux said Thursday on MSNBC.

LeMieux said part of his campaign effort has been to ensure that voters realize that the Connie Mack running for Senate in 2012 is the son, not the father.

Mack and his father have appeared occasionally together in public, including on the campaign trail in Florida ahead of the January presidential primary, where the father-son team campaigned for Mitt Romney. The candidate’s great-grandfather, also named Connie Mack, was a prominent baseball manager/owner and member of the Hall of Fame.

LeMieux has been running far behind Mack in the primary, but none of the candidates have been able to capture the excitement of the GOP base, leading some Republicans to call for more candidates to enter the race. The winner of the primary will take on Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), whom LeMieux said would defeat Mack.

LeMieux accused Mack of failing to show up for work, noting that he’s missed more votes in the House than any other member, and said the large amount of time he spends in California — the home of his wife, Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R) — raises doubts about whether he actually lives in Florida.

“Connie Mack can’t win a character contest with Bill Nelson,” LeMieux said. “This is the least qualified person to run for major office.”

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