Months ahead of voting day, Rep. Connie Mack (R-Fla.) has effectively declared the Republican U.S. Senate primary over, declining an invitation to participate in a televised debate with his opponent George LeMieux.

George LeMieux's, left, Levels Charges at Connie Mack
[Photo: www2.tbo.com] 

"It’s clear the race for the U.S. Senate in Florida is now between Connie Mack, the Republican, and Bill Nelson, the Democrat," Mack's campaign manager Jeff Cohen wrote in a letter to the Tampa Bay Times. "A primary debate among Republicans would only serve to benefit Bill Nelson," Cohen wrote, adding it "makes all the sense in the world" for Mack to start debating Nelson.

Former state Attorney General Bill McCollum, a supporter of Mack, said, "I personally always believe candidates should participate in debates,......." saying, "My view is that candidates should participate as fully as possible in public debates." Read more;