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Mel's Farewell

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 3, 2008

Mel Martinez' decision to give up his U.S. Senate seat came as something of a surprise Tuesday, although there have been signs he wasn't eager to begin another campaign.

The Republican senator's war chest stands at $1.2 million, but he faced the daunting task of raising upward of $25 million just to compete with the Democrats. Plus, his 42 percent approval rating puts him among the most vulnerable incumbents.

Martinez played down those concerns and said he is simply ready to resume private life. That's easy to understand. His ties to the Bush administration - his service as secretary of Housing and Urban Development, his decision to run six years ago at the urging of the president, and then his short, mistaken tenure as head of the Republican National Committee - labeled him a partisan and hurt his popularity.

Still, Martinez served the state honorably. His thoughtful, conscientious manner earned our admiration, especially when he endorsed immigration reform, knowing it would be unpopular.

Speculation about who will succeed him is rampant. A great race would pit former Gov. Jeb Bush against Alex Sink, the state's chief financial officer. But Jeb has said he is not interested , and his temperament is more executive than deliberative.

Sink has several options: She could run for re-election in two years, seek the Senate seat or challenge Charlie Crist for the governorship. Surely, Tampa's Jim Davis, a former congressman, would give the Democrats a credible alternative.
Republican Congressman Adam Putnam told us recently that he would have to consider an open seat, and the native Floridian would be a formidable candidate.

Whatever happens, the race will be exciting. Martinez will be watching from the sidelines, but he has cause to be proud of his tenure.

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