In Florida, Martinez Considers Senate Bid

Rothenberg Political Report via PoliticalWire.com ^ | 11/12/2003 | Stuart Rothenberg

[JohnnyZ]

HUD Secretary Mel Martinez "is taking yet another look at a possible Florida Senate run, and the White House seems to be encouraging him to run," according to the Rothenberg Political Report. "Word of Martinez’s interest comes on the heels of apparently inaccurate reports" that Rep. Katherine Harris (R) is likely to announce soon for the Senate. "The freshman Republican told the Report... that that is not the case."

[JohnnyZ]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/931353/posts

Martinez good, Harris not as good but not necessarily bad, others okay

[Pubbie]

*Ping*!

*Great* news that Harris is not (Yet) running.

I have mixed feelings about Martinez because I would rather send up a more seasoned Politician like Webster or Byrd.

[JohnnyZ]

Y'all were on the last Florida thread, so here's another.

[ambrose]

While I like Harris, I think she'd be too polarizing for a statewide bid.. plus, she was just elected to the House... Perhaps '06 against Bill Nelson would be better timing for her...

[Clintonfatigued]

Mel Martinez has great credentials. Before being appointed to his current post, he served on the Orange County Board of Commissioners. But if he truly doesn't want to be a Senator, then he shouldn't run. I'm still for Daniel Webster, despite his dissapointing fundraising totals.

[Pubbie]

"But if he truly doesn't want to be a Senator, then he shouldn't run."

I don't think he will run because I read a while ago that Martinez was really keen to run for Governor in 2006.

However, This is just an educated guess on my part.

[JohnnyZ]

Perhaps '06 against Bill Nelson would be better timing for her...

I don't think she can take out an incumbent. Nelson started out weak but incumbency is good for a couple of points, and with NASA being more high-profile . . . I think Crist or Gallagher or a Cuban could take him.

[Kuksool]

The winner of the GOP primary still remains unclear.

[republicanwizard]

WOW! Johnny! What a great day this is! Krolicki and Martinez considering Senate runs! It looks like we may have two strong nominees running in these two seats I was worrying about recently. Now, we just have to coax Asa Hutchinson to run in Arkansas, John Thune in South Dakota, the AG in North Dakota, and Bill Jones in California. I think we have good candidates in the other races, and besides, the impact of the Presidential race cannot be overstated.

[CFC__VRWC]

I'm glad Harris decided to sit this one out. She'll do much better against Bill Nelson in 2006, once she's gotten some experience.

[WOSG]

Harris is bad - her freshman accomplishment was finding an innovative way to spend taxpayers money ... No Thanks!

Is Martinez a Conservative???

[JohnnyZ]

Is Martinez a Conservative???

Um . . . sure. I don't think his detailed positions are known, but I'm sure he's solid, probably not perfect.

[Clintonfatigued]

Well, your guesses are always well-informed and interesting.

[Clintonfatigued]

I think that John Thune will run in South Dakota. But he's sure taking his time about it. He needs to get off his duff and start raising money. In Arkansas, Asa Hutchinson is definitely out of the running. I think the best Republicans can do there is Congressman John Boozman. In California, the latest buzz is regarding Congressman David Dreier, who is sitting on $2.6 million in cash-on-hand. That money is instant credibility. But in North Dakota, no one prominent will run against Byron Dorgan, whose approval rating is 78%. Enough said.

[Kuksool]

Asa Hutchinson is out. Mike Huckabee is out. Any word on Lt-Gov. Rockerfeller? If not, then Blanche Lincoln is getting a free ride in 2004.

[Clintonfatigued]

Paul Rockefeller doesn't want to live or work in Washington, D.C. Word has it, his goal is the governorship, and Mike Huckabee is term-limited in 2006.

[Tall_Texan]

I'm hoping for Katharine Harris just because the libs will turn purple at the thought of her being an equal to Hillary Clinton.

[Kuksool]

Shame. I was hopping the GOP Southern Surge would sweep into every Dixie state.

[Coop]

I like Katherine Harris, but I'm pleased she's (apparently) not going to go for this seat. Let her become a bit more seasoned in the House, and a bit more removed from the 2000 election controversy. (Which should be soundly put to rest for most of America in about twelve months.)

[caltrop]

Martinez has no public voting record except as a County Commissioner that I'm aware of. Electing someone to the Senate without a voting record makes it awfully easy for someone to claim he's a Compassionate Conservative which, to those of us who've been around, know is a budget busting, big government type formerly called a Rockefeller Republican. Whether he's a real (small government, low taxes, individual freedoms) Conservative is, as far as I can tell, anybody's guess.

I suspect Peter Deutsch will be the Democratic nominee. If so, he'll try to buy the seat and has a nationwide network of supporters already sending him checks. IMHO, primaries are an important part of the process and almost always result in a stronger candidate. As should at this point be obvious, the Bush brothers don't agree and would prefer to spare Republicans the burden of making their own primary decisions. If Martinez enters the race, look for Dubya and JEB to pressure other candidates out of the race. Selecting a candidate based on his loyalty to the Bush family will, IMHO, greatly increase the chance the Democrats will continue to hold the seat.