From Keith Laing of the News Service of Florida: Appearing at the same event for the first time since both acknowledged they are running for the U.S. Senate in 2012, Sen. Bill Nelson and Florida Senate President Mike Haridopolos each said Wednesday that they hoped to be judged in that race by their records in office now.
Nelson, the lone elected statewide Democrat, confirmed that he is definitely a candidate in 2012 to return to his seat for a third term and is confident he will win, despite the tough times experienced by fellow Democrats in 2010. Following an election that saw Democrats nationally and in Florida get wiped out in 2010, Nelson has emerged as a top Republican target.
He used his speech to the annual Associated Press Florida Legislative Planning Session to tout his record in the Senate.