Paul’s backing could boost Mack’s conservative credentials. The Florida Congressman is battling former Sen. George LeMieux for the GOP Senate nomination.

“From standing against the Bush administration on [the Troubled Asset Relief Program] and fighting against President [Barack] Obama’s failed stimulus, to his introduction of the Penny Plan, which I strongly support, Connie Mack has proven time and again that he is a staunch conservative and the very type of principled leader that we need in the United States Senate,” Paul said in a statement released by the Mack campaign.

“Winning the Florida Senate seat for conservatives means the defeat of Harry Reid and all of us need to rally around Connie for the sake of our country,” Paul added. “We need Connie Mack in the U.S. Senate.”

Mack, who already has GOP establishment support in the Sunshine State, could benefit from the nod of Paul, a tea party-affiliated Senator. LeMieux, locked in a nasty and personal campaign with the Congressman, has worked to outflank him on the right.

LeMieux, who served as then-Gov. Charlie Crist’s chief of staff before Crist left the GOP to become an independent, was appointed to the Senate by the governor in 2009 to serve out the remainder of Republican Mel Martinez’s Senate term. Martinez resigned to return to the private sector.

Whoever wins the Aug. 14 primary will likely have an uphill battle against two-term Sen. Bill Nelson (D). Roll Call rates the race as Leans Democratic.