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2 Big Names Won't Enter Senate Race

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By WILLIAM MARCH wmarch@tampatrib.com

The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 29, 2009

TAMPA - Two of the best-known potential candidates for Florida's 2010 U.S. Senate race, Republican Attorney General Bill McCollum and Democratic U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd, both announced Wednesday that they won't run for the seat.

Instead, both said they will run for re-election to their current offices.

Their decisions cut down further the number of big-name political figures likely to run for the open Senate seat, making it more likely that the primary races in both parties will have fields of lesser-known candidates.

That could make the race an even more attractive prospect for Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio, who said this week that she is considering a run.

Republican U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, now finishing his first term, has announced he won't run for re-election to the seat next year.

On the Republican side, former Gov. Jeb Bush has already announced he won't run to replace Martinez, and on the Democratic side, state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink has said she won't run.

National Republican officials have sought to recruit Republican Gov. Charlie Crist for the race, and although Crist hasn't ruled out running for the Senate instead of for re-election, he has hinted it's not likely.

Leaving Crist aside, McCollum was the only Democrat or Republican publicly considering the race who has won a statewide office. Candidate fields on both sides include members of Congress and state legislators, none of whom have statewide reputations.

Among them are state Sen. Dan Gelber and U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, both of the Miami area, announced Democratic candidates; and Republican U.S. Reps. Connie Mack of Fort Myers and Vern Buchanan of Longboat Key and former House speaker Marco Rubio of Miami, who are considering running.

McCollum, who lost to Martinez in the 2004 GOP primary for the Senate seat, said in a statement that he wants to continue his work as attorney general.

"Our team has made great strides combating Internet child predators, gangs and mortgage and Medicaid fraud, and in providing consumer protection. But there is more to do," he said.

Boyd said he decided his 12 years of seniority in the House would make him more effective there: "I will have an even stronger voice in policy decisions that will affect our economy and fiscal outlook."

Reporter William March can be reached at (813) 259-7761.

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