Mack gets Rubio, IRL CPR while closing gap on Nelson

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U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen went to their Versailles voter base Monday to try to resuscitate the Connie Mack IV campaign against U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson with a little mouth to mouth.

Some say he needs an epinephrin shot to the heart. You know, ala Pulp Fiction.

But for the first time in months of what many called a lackluster campaign, it looks the Congressman is finally putting up a fight, increasing his TV ad time, being more aggressive overall and traveling the state on a “Freedom Tour” in the Mack Mobile RV. (You gotta admit, the Republicans are getting more cool. What with Freedom Tours and Maverick PACs. Sounds like a video game or an Angelina Jolie movie).

Mack has been trailing Nelson in polls and, face it, there just has not been a lot of excitement about this race. It should be one of the most important races to voters — arguably the most important in the state, next to the presidential face-off. It is to the Republican Party.

Because, like Rubio said, the GOP needs four seats to takeover a majority in the Senate — and snatch the gavel from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a goal that may, actually, be within reach. They’ll win a seat in Texas with Tea Party darling Ted Cruz. It’s practically a shoe-in. There are a couple of other turnovers being worked on. (More on that later).

And then, in Florida, there is Mack, born Cornelius Harvey MacGillicuddy IV, who — for all his lack of pizazz (Rubio has enough for both of them) — is the best shot the GOP has had against Nelson. Maybe ever.

But if they are serious about it, the GOP better pony up. Ladra is talking chow. Looks like the party has not given to the Mack campaign, which is trailing Nelson in fundraising by more than $10 million. Mack, in fact, has reported raising $3.3 million as of the last end of the reporting period last month. Nelson, on the other hand, raised almost $14 million. The Republican Party better stop being so stingy (more on that later).

While earlier polls — to many to count, changing too much from not week to week but day to day — had him as far as 14 points behind — and as recent as four days ago — a reportedly independent survey by Gravis Marketing released today has them locked head-to-head with 43 percent (and 14 percent undecided).

And that is welcome news to Rubio, who could use another friendly on Capitol Hill. He has also worked with Mack in the state house and introduced him to the crowd of about 60 or so people — equal parts supporters and media — as a friend and fellow patriot. Rubio knows how to work a crowd — you don’t get to be potential VP if you don’t — and this was not a jobs group. The Senator made sure to mention Mack was on the largely Hispanic group’s side on their international issues.

“He’s always been such a strong supporter of freedom and liberty in the Western Hemisphere,” Rubio said at the podium. “Not just when it comes to Cuba, but Venezuela and anywhere else in this hemisphere where dictators have raised their head, where democracy has been undermined, Connie mack has been there firmly.”

Mack took no time to slam into Nelson, calling him a flip-flopper (hmmm, like who else in Washington? Um, everybody?) who said he wouldn’t but then did vote for the Affordable Healthcare Act, which was repeatedly called Obamacare, naturally.

“Sen. Nelson has made a habit of saying one thing to you and doing another thing in Washington DC,” Mack said when it was his turn, looking more confident than ever, even without a guayabera on.

“I’m going to make sure this is the last term for Sen. Nelson.”

Rubio recognized to Ladra that the Mack campaign needed a kick start to give it some momentum heading into the final month before election day. (Full album on facebook here). How can he and others help turn the tide or continue to turn the tide to his favor?

“This kind of energy down the stretch,” Rubio told Ladra, as he walked to the requisite cafecito picture at the window with Mack (look for it soon in a mailbox near you).

“Making sure the differences between Connie Mack and Bill Nelson are known. Once the differences are known, people will make the right choice,” said Rubio, who will be with the Romney/Ryan team in Denver for the debate.

Mack, who thanked Ros-Lehtinen and Rubio for their support, told Ladra that he is simply working harder than Nelson.

“Hard work is not a principle of his,” Mack said.

“Bill Nelson won’t debate me. He doesn’t want to face me because he is on the wrong side of every issue, and he is just making excuses,” Mack told me, adding that the help from his Cuban-American Republican colleagues is crucial.

“They’re right on the issues. Marco is a true leader. He and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen are willing to take on the hard issues and that’s what people want in Washington,” Mack said.

He didn’t have to add that he would be right there with them on the same side of those issues. He didn’t have to.

But if he’s working hard, Ladra is going to have to say that he needs to work harder. If he’s got momentum, don’t take the iron off the flame.

Mack, who visited The Villages and Tampa later in the day, said he intends not to.

“There’s a lot of forces on the other side. They are energized,” he said back at the podium. “But you know what? We’re energized too. We’re going to campaign hard and strong from now until election day.”

We have a little more than four weeks to find out if it’s true what some say: That the hard and strong part should have come hotter and sooner.