Deal endorses old colleague in member-on-member primary in FL

Nathan Deal was among a trio of Republican governors to make an endorsement this week in a Florida congressional primary in which two members, one a ten-term incumbent and the other a tea party freshman, were drawn into the same district during reapportionment.

Deal, himself a former congressman prior to winning the governor’s mansion in 2010, endorsed Rep. John Mica over conservative frosh Rep. Sandy Adams just as Floridians were heading the polls Tuesday.

“I served with Chairman Mica in the House. Not only is he a man of integrity, but he is also an excellent and visionary legislator,” Deal said in a statement circulated by Mica’s campaign. ”John’s constituents can be proud that their representative is helping our nation set its transportation priorities in a fiscally conservative manner. The work he does benefits his district, but his leadership is an asset to the entire country.”

Deal’s support was billed alongside three others, Mica aides calling it a gubernatorial grandslam.

Other endorsers included Puerto Rico Governor Luis Fortuno and former Mississippi Governor Haley Barbour, for whom this blogger once served as a communications adviser.

UPDATE: Mica routed Adams in the pair’s incumbent clash, notching 60 percent with 80 percent of precincts having reported vote tallies.

- James Richardson