Bromance Lives for Cannon and Haridopolos

St. Pete Times: Cannon and Haridopolos pose for a photo op.

House Speaker Dean Cannon (R-Winter Park) and Senate President Mike Haridopolos (R-Merritt Island) began the 2011 legislative session by going out of their ways to ensure Florida that they would be on the same page.  After all, we wouldn't want another House-Senate smackdown (cough cough like the last two years).  Session went pretty well overall, but ended in meltdown.  Haridopolos was flabbergasted when the House timed out before passing tax relief. According to the Miami Herald, "The meltdown between Haridopolos and Cannon is a major embarrassment in a year when Republicans hold overwhelming majorities in both chambers of the Legislature." Haridopolos piled on, "To end this way, is a major disappointment to me personally and my fellow Senators are heartbroken by it."

But the bromance appears to be intact after all.  Speaker Cannon went a long way toward healing wounds as he appeared with Haridopolos to endorse his bid for US Senate to replace Bill Nelson.  Cannon gushed over his ally, "Mike Haridopolos is a trusted friend, a valued legislative partner, and a much-needed voice for conservative principles in Washington, D.C.”  The Senate President quickly returned the praise. "Speaker Cannon is a great leader who has worked with me in tackling entitlement reforms, cutting taxes, and ensuring that government lives within its means. I couldn't ask for a better partner in the Florida Legislature and I look forward to having the speaker join me on the campaign trail.”

Yesterday actually marked the second rollout of the the Cannon endorsement.  News originally broke in February that Cannon would support his legislative compadre in a private strategy session.

Posted by Nick Stone on 6:11 AM. Filed under Dean Cannon, Florida, FLSen, Mike Haridopolos, RPOF . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0