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Martinez Stashing Cash For 2010 Bid

U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez laughs as he is being introduced at a Pasco County Council of Chambers Leadership luncheon.

Tribune photo by CHRIS URSO

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By BILLY HOUSE, The Tampa Tribune

Published: February 11, 2008

Updated: 02/11/2008 12:12 am

WASHINGTON - Sen. Mel Martinez has surpassed $3 million raised for his campaign war chest since taking office, well ahead of the pace of most other U.S. senators whose current terms also expire in 2010, new campaign finance reports show.

And with the names of as many as five top Florida Democrats being floated as aspirants for his job, Florida's junior senator is making it no secret that he intends to start focusing even more intently on growing his campaign fund.

"I'd like it to be much better than it is. But I'm also not devoting as much time to it as I need to," Martinez said. Until he resigned as head of the Republican National Committee on Oct. 19, Martinez was helping to raise money for GOP candidates across the country.

"Over the next month or so, we have several fundraisers planned. I'm happy with the response I get when I have them," he said.

The $3.09 million that Martinez has taken in between the start of 2005 and the end of 2007 ranks as high as fourth among 30 senators whose seats are up for re-election in 2010, and who are not now running for president.

Martinez has parted with nearly $2 million of that to pay off debt owed by his campaign committee from his 2004 race, refund contributions to 2004 donors that exceeded federal limits, and make good on accountant and lawyer fees charged to help untangle his finance-reporting irregularities.

But Martinez still has $1.1 million tucked away, according to his new filing with the Federal Election Commission.

"It's one of the nasty parts of our work, because who wants to do fundraising? Nobody does," Martinez said. "But you've got to do it, and so finding time in my calendar is becoming an increasing priority."

One reason for that may be that the names of at least five prominent state Democrats are being floated as potential contenders for Martinez's Senate seat.

The latest is that of Tampa's freshman U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor.

A potential Martinez-Kathy Castor race would deliver especially unusual overtones to the campaign that go beyond political to the personal. That's because it was Castor's mother, Betty, who ran against Martinez in 2004 and narrowly lost.

Castor's chief of staff Clay Phillips says the congresswoman remains focused on her work in the U.S. House, and on her re-election bid this fall.

But when pressed about speculation that Castor may consider running for the Senate, Phillips said she isn't ruling it out.

"I would think that with the amount of success she's had, even as a freshman in the House, those are the things people look to when they look for people to run for other offices," Phillips said.

"I think it makes sense," he said of the speculation.

Other names of possible Democratic candidates for Martinez's seat in 2010 include Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, state House Minority Leader Dan Gelber, former congressman and gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis, and Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio.

"I'm running for the state Senate now," Gelber said when asked about the chances of him making a U.S. Senate bid "It's sort of hard to contemplate running for the NBA when you're trying out for your high school squad."

Davis, now a lawyer with Holland & Knight, was out of the country and could not be reached.

There has been speculation that Iorio is talking up Davis as a possible successor to her as mayor, possibly to eliminate him as a Democratic competitor in a 2010 Senate race.

But in an interview, Iorio insisted her name should not be on any list of potential Senate candidates: "I've seen my name in all the articles. But I just don't have any plans at all to run for the Senate in 2010," she said.

"I have never put my name forth in that race, never talked about, and have no plans to run," said Iorio, whose last term as mayor ends in 2011.

Sink, the state's second highest ranking Democrat behind U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, could not be reached to discuss a potential Senate bid by her.

Regarding potential 2010 foes already being discussed, Martinez said: "I think that's par for the course.

"People want to be senators," Martinez said.

Martinez added that he emerged the victor in 2004 against a fairly crowded field, when he was "a lot less known and had a lot less resources."

There had been speculation that Martinez might not seek a second term. But no longer.

"I have every intention of running," Martinez said.

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

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