One of the many hopefuls for Trey Radel’s former seat in Congress announced an endorsement from a former Tea Party candidate on Wednesday. Retired CEO Curt Clawson announced he won the backing of Tea Party conservative Byron Donalds.
Donalds previously ran for that same seat in 2012. He lost to Radel in that crowded primary, but Radel recently resigned following a cocaine bust.
Donalds told a small group of supporters and media that Clawson’s campaign was about more than flashy TV ads.
“For most of the voters in Southwest Florida, they know Curt Clawson as a guy challenging Obama to a three point shooting contest,” he said. “But the Curt Clawson that I have come to know and that you will come to know is a guy that has led a $2.2 billion multi-national corporation and a man who has been a leader in the real world.”
Clawson says he’s “grateful and humbled” by the endorsement.
The political newcomer has a long fight ahead of him, though.
Former state lawmaker Paige Kreegel is also running for the seat with the help of a well-funded Super PAC.
Fort Myers Republican State Senator Lizbeth Benacquisto recently got a big endorsement, too.
The Susan B. Anthony List – a pro-life political group –announced it is supporting Benacquisto in the special election.
