Connie Mack Eyes Trey Radel's House Seat

Mack gave it up in his unsuccessful race for Senate

Former Rep. Connie Mack has begun reaching out to supporters to run for Rep. Trey Radel's House seat, several sources tell POLITICO.

Mack (R-Fla.) gave the seat up in 2012 when he ran unsuccessfully against Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.). But with Radel in rehabilitation following his arrest for possession of cocaine, Mack is trying to shore up support. One Republican lobbyist said that Mack has "made his intention known."

As he undergoes rehab in Naples, Fla., Radel is coming under increasing pressure to give up his House seat. On Tuesday, Florida Republican Gov. Rick Scott said Radel should step down, according to the Fort Myers News-Press. On Monday night, Lenny Curry, chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, called on Radel to "step down and focus his attention on rehabilitation and his family." The two local party chairs in Radel's southwest Florida district also called on the first-term Republican to step down, and said if he decides to run again, he will not have their support.