Rep. Connie Mack, R-Fort Myers, missed today's vote on the Ryan budget plan, campaign manifesto for the GOP. Mack was doing some campaigning of his own, with events in South Florida for his U.S. Senate bid.

His spokesman, David James, tells the Buzz that Mack certainly supports the Ryan budget, as well as his own debt reduction plan, but had other obligations.

Those obligations have made Mack miss votes all week, in fact, adding to a pile of absences as he kicks the Senate campaign into gear. It's certain to be used against him by Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. In 2006, Rep. Jim Davis got hammered for missed votes while running for governor against Charlie Crist.

It's may only be a matter of time before the empty chair Connie ad surfaces.