***Update – 9:07 a.m. – Just got off the phone with Deneault’s campaign manager, Bob Esposito, who says Deneault and consultants “still working” on language for press release, which should come around “9 or 10.” But Esposito stated that this straight-shooting Deneault isn’t dropping out for any other reason than health concerns.
Spoke with a source affiliated but not directly working for Connie Deneault’s campaign for House District 52. Source confirms rumor which started after Adam Smith tweeted: “Hearing one of FL GOP’s best FL House challngers, Connie Deneault in HD 52 is dropping out abruptly…” Source says Deneault is, in fact, leaving the race, for reasons unknown.
I had been ringing the alarm bell about Deneault for weeks:
Over 80% of Florida House candidate Connie Deneault’s money is coming from outside District 52
Nearly 60% of Florida House candidate Connie Deneault’s contributions coming from insurance industry
Don’t look now but Bill Heller has a serious opponent in House District 52
It’s important to note that Deneault’s withdrawal is another blow to the empire of my old colleague Jim Rimes (best nuts and bolts guy in the business), who recently decided to stick with the Republican Party rather than go with his former mentor Charlie Crist precisely because of all the business Rimes and his business partners would go without had they lost their contracts with the RPOF.
Of course, Rimes will be very okay. In the meantime, Connie, we hardly knew ya…
