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Former N.H. senator bids for Florida's open seat

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Published: June 10, 2009

Updated: 06/10/2009 01:11 am

SARASOTA - Former New Hampshire Republican Sen. Bob Smith formally announced his run for Florida's open U.S. Senate seat this week, two months after filing the legal documents.

Smith, who has lived in Sarasota for seven years after serving two terms as U.S. senator from New Hampshire, was sitting on the sidelines and ready to retire, but became frustrated "as a true conservative with the direction the country was going," said a spokesman, Carl Grooms.

Smith filed the papers with the Federal Election Commission and the state on April 13 but never made a proper announcement to the press, according to Grooms. "He wanted to make sure the media was well-aware that he was in the race and he was serious," Groom said of Monday's announcement.

Republicans seeking the seat are Gov. Charlie Crist and former House Speaker Marco Rubio. U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek is the top Democratic candidate for the seat Republican Mel Martinez is leaving after one term.

The Associated Press

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