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2004 Win Saps Martinez's Coffers

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By BILLY HOUSE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 18, 2007

WASHINGTON - Florida Republican Mel Martinez is among the top early fundraisers of the class of U.S. senators who face re-election in 2010, already taking in nearly $2.9 million for his own cause.

But in bracing for the future, the first-term senator's campaign fundraising has been complicated by the past.

Rather than stockpiling a lot of this money, huge chunks have instead gone to paying off more than $500,000 in debt from his 2004 race, refunding contributions to 2004 donors that exceeded federal limits, and paying accountant and lawyer fees to help untangle finance-reporting irregularities.

Those costs have helped to lower Martinez's campaign committee balance to just $915,557 through Sept. 30 in his latest filings with the Federal Election Commission.

That ranks only 21st among the 30 senators whose seats will be up for grabs in 2010, not including four other senators who have been more focused on raising and spending money nationally as presidential candidates.

Jennifer Duffy, an expert on the Senate with the Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan newsletter, said it may seem early to start thinking of the 2010 campaigns.

But those races will launch less than a year from now, she said, "the day after the '08 elections."

And the worry for Martinez is not just that Florida is a state where it is expensive to run a campaign. Martinez spent $12.3 million in 2004 defeating Betty Castor of Tampa.

"Mel Martinez absolutely is going to be targeted by Democrats if he runs again," said Duffy, pointing to his narrow victory against Castor and the slippage he has seen this year in his in-state job-approval ratings.

A poll of Florida voters by Quinnipiac University this summer showed the freshman senator facing his lowest approval ratings ever, 36 percent. His disapproval ratings were 38 percent.

Iorio Named As Possible Opponent

Already, the names of possible Democratic opponents are being floated, including Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink; state House Minority Leader Dan Gelber; former U.S. Rep. and gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis; and Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio.

Martinez spokesman Ken Lundberg said it is not surprising that a number of people would consider running for the U.S. Senate in a state as large and diverse as Florida.

Although no official announcement has been made, Lundberg said "the senator has every intention of running again."

He also said, "The senator is looking forward to a vigorous discussion of the issues."

As for the amount of cash now in his campaign war chest, Martinez sees no reason to be alarmed. In fact, Lundberg said he is pleased with the totals he has raised so far.

The $2.86 million he was able to raise for himself ranks sixth among the 30 senators whose seats are up for re-election in 2010, and who are not now running for president.

And until he resigned as head of the Republican National Committee on Oct. 19, Martinez also was helping to raise money for GOP candidates across the country.

Only one fellow freshman senator, South Dakota Republican John Thune, has pulled in more cash for his re-election bid, more than $4 million, Federal Election Commission records show.

Group Urges Election Penalties

Lundberg does not dispute that a large amount of what Martinez has raised since January 2005 has gone to campaign debt and other expenses tied to the 2004 campaign, including legal ones.

Along with the more than $500,000 in debt from the race, a Federal Election Commission audit released in April resulted in the Martinez being forced to refund nearly $97,000 in 2004 donations that appeared to exceed legal limits.

Martinez's committee also has had to pay at least $300,000 so far in legal and accounting fees to help address bookkeeping irregularities.

And that may not be the end of it.

The audit's findings of numerous election-law violations can still lead to a hefty fine by the commission, though an agency spokesman said officials there will not discuss whether it is being considered.

A Washington-based government-watchdog group, Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics, wants Martinez's committee to be slapped with up to $800,000 in penalties.

But Lundberg pointed out that in a period in which Martinez had to devote time to his RNC duties, and also deal with negative reaction to his efforts to craft a compromise on immigration, he was still able to raise nearly $2.9 million.

That amount ranks high not just among fellow freshman senators, but also against longer serving senators, he said.

"Now, the 2010 election cycle is coming, so clearly he's going to be even more aggressive in seeking support," Lundberg said.

Reporter Billy House can be reached at (202) 662-7673 or bhouse@tampatrib.com.

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