(CNN) - The Republicans seeking to oust Sen. Bill Nelson of Florida have more company in their race: former Florida Rep. Dave Weldon.
Weldon - who represented the state's space coast until 2008, when he left Congress and returned to practicing medicine - announced Friday he's joining the field of Republicans seeking to unseat Nelson, the state's senior and two-term senator. He is also Florida's only Democrat in statewide office.
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In a press release announcing his bid, Weldon made no mention of Nelson, nor his GOP rivals, but criticized President Barack Obama, who he said has "has traded America's greatness for international acceptance, turned his back on our Constitution and the intentions of our founding fathers and crushed the economic engine that helped make America great."
His campaign said the candidate "just couldn't sit on the sidelines anymore and watch our freedoms being systematically stripped away."
Already in the race are former Sen. George LeMieux, who was appointed to the seat now held by Sen. Marco Rubio by former Florida Gov. Charlie Christ, and Rep. Connie Mack, who on Wednesday picked up the endorsement of GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney.
The nine Republicans have raised nearly as much - $8.5 million and change - as has Nelson this cycle, according to Federal Election Commission tallies.
The state's primary will be held on August 14. The independent Cook Political Report and Rothenberg Political Report both rate the race as leaning in Nelson's favor.
- CNN's Paul Steinhauser and Gregory Wallace contributed to this report
Also see:
Romney to start airing first general election campaign ad Friday
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Another easy win for the Republican party, I'm surprised Mr. Nelson has not announced his retirement like the other Democrats that see the ship going down fast, Dodd, Frank, Emanuel, Gibbs and Volcker.
Doesn't matter. Nelson is toast. Maybe he and Obama can carpool to the unemployment office.
Rubes, Man I gotta tell ya, Yall plan with Rove & Romney to make ut hard for American Folks to Vote, Brilliant, Its Mr Personalitys only shot at winning the Whiehouse.
Weldon – who represented the state's space coast until 2008, when he left Congress and returned to practicing medicine – announced Friday he's joining the field of Republicans seeking to unseat Nelson, the state's senior and two-term senator. He is also Florida's only Democrat in statewide office.
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Good work Florida! You only have one more mistake, I mean Democrat, to remove and you'll be back on the road to success.
Just another Republican that hates Washington but knocking the door down to get those Lobbyist big bucks.
Why does he have green hair? Is he an oompa loompa?
Watch out Florida more bs headed your way!!
Sen.Nelson will be reelected because he's the only politician that actually helps the people of Florida,not these other hypocrites.Running in Rick Scotts shadow these morons are much of what's wrong here since 2010.When these republicans took over seats everywhere,but getting nothing done,just lip service,that's all,no jobs,education cutbacks,public employees cutbacks,higher property taxes,higher home insurance,everything that's negetive was created by these ignorent fools.Just teaparty followers lost in their own delushional world,where there is only a two tyre class system,1%ers and the rest,the survivors of this corrupted leadership and their agendas...
-Obama 2012 – BEND Forward America, take another 4 long years of FAILURE
Weldon – who represented the state's space coast until 2008, when he left Congress and returned to practicing medicine – announced Friday he's joining the field of Republicans seeking to unseat Nelson, the state's senior and two-term senator. He is also Florida's only Democrat in statewide office.
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Good work Florida! You only have one more mistake, I mean Democrat, to remove and you'll be back on the road to success.
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Oh goodie! Another rightie comes out of the closet to prove they are not in favor of a multi-party system after all. Tell me, do you want Romney referred to as the " Dear Leader", " Mr. Prophet", or would you settle for " Der Fuhrer"? Nothing like an Iranian-style " democracy", eh?