WFTV's Drew Petrimoulx was in The Villages Monday afternoon when GOP Senate candidate Connie Mack tried to get a boost from Sen. Marco Rubio and GOP voters.

The polls show Mack needs the extra help to get ahead of Sen. Bill Nelson.

After being introduced by conservative hero Rubio, Mack delivered a speech to a Republican-friendly crowd.

When on the offensive, Mack tied Nelson to President Barack Obama, blaming the two Democrats for the sluggish economy.

"I think that's what Sen. Bill Nelson and Barack Obama don't get -- American spirit, the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well; we just need government to get off our backs," said Mack.

"We have a president and Sen. Nelson who bow to our enemies," said Mack.

Mack touched on another big issue: health care. Mack declared Nelson cast the deciding vote that got the Obama-backed health care bill through the U.S. Senate, and he promised to vote to repeal it, if elected.

Rubio said it's that notion that brings him to Mack's side. Right now Republicans are in the minority in the Senate. If they can change that by picking up just a few seats on Nov. 6, Rubio and his fellow Republicans will increase their power. Nelson's seat is one of their top targets.

"For us it's not just about winning a Senate seat in Florida; it's about winning the majority," said Rubio.

Mack is behind Nelson in the latest poll numbers. An average of eight major polls in the month of September put Nelson at 48 percent to Mack's 39 percent.

WFTV also confirmed that at the end of July, Nelson had $8.8 million to spend through the fall. Mack had just $1.3 million.

It's only a little more than a month until Election Day and only 48 hours until the first major presidential debate.

Presidential nominee Mitt Romney has been preparing for the debates. He's reading briefing books, meeting with top aids and having mock debates with Sen. Rob Portman.

Obama has been rehearsing with Sen. John Kerry.