As expected, Democratic Florida Sen. Bill Nelson announced he is running for a third term Wednesday, according to an Associated Press report.
A December Public Policy Polling survey showed Nelson with a 36/33 favorability rating with 23 percent of Republicans favoring him, too, but after two terms in the Senate, 31 percent of respondents still had no opinion of him.
State Senate President Mike Haridopolos has already announced his campaign to become Nelson’s Republican challenger, and other names floated are former U.S. Sen. George LeMieux, U.S. Rep. Connie Mack and state Rep. Adam Hasner. Nelson had leads over all of his potential challengers — who are largely unknown statewide — in the December poll.
