Endorsements don’t necessarily win elections for candidates seeking elective office, but they sure do bolster moral and help with fundraising.

While the three Republican congressional candidates running in FL CD 149-Francis Rooney, Chauncey Goss, Dan Bongino- have all scored their share of support from local, state and national public figures and organizations, one endorsement that has eluded all three men has been that of the National Rifle Association (NRA).

While the NRA-VF, which is the political arm of the NRA, has not endorsed in this race, it has put out their customary election cycle questionnaire ratings.

You would think that all three men, who are all big gun advocates, would have all scored no less than an “A” rating from group, right?

Well, this is not the case.

Both Bongino and Rooney have received the NRA-VF rating of “AQ.”

According to the Group, this is what “AQ” means”

AQ:

A pro-gun candidate whose rating is based solely on the candidate’s responses to the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire and who does not have a voting record on Second Amendment issues.

Goss received a “?” rating from the group. What that means is that Goss, a lifetime member of the NRA, has not submitted the questionnaire.

Here is what the NRA-VF defines “?” to mean:

?:

Refused to answer the NRA-PVF Candidate Questionnaire, often an indication of indifference, if not outright hostility, to gun owners’ and sportsmen’s rights.

We reached out to Goss for comment, asking him why he had not submitted the NRA-VF questionnaire. Goss responded to our request for comment with this statement:

“Id like to thank former Democrat Francis Rooney’s DC PAC for pointing out we didn’t receive the NRA survey. I’m happy to report I am a lifetime NRA member and am attending the Friends of the NRA dinner tomorrow night. I am a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment. None of this will matter to his PAC, since they have a problem with the truth. Expect to see another desperate mailer with lies and fabrications. The hallmarks of Rooney’s losing campaign.”- Chauncey Goss

With Bongino’s campaign appearing to be dead on arrival, it looks as if Rooney and Goss are in a close and heated race for the congressional seat Rep. Curt Clawson (R) is vacating.

Rooney has recently poured an additional $600,000 into his efforts to win the Republican-leaning seat, and has stepped up his attacks against Goss leaving some to question if this last minute push signifies a vulnerability in his campaign.

Neither campaign wishes to divulge their internal polling numbers, so it is anyone’s guess as to who actually leads in this contentious primary race