Florida attorney general announces run for governor

Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum says he will run for governor in 2010.

McCollum, a Republican, made his announcement at the Embassy Suites in Orlando, his hometown, at 10 a.m. Elected as attorney general in 2006, he previously served in Congress for 20 years.

In his announcement for the governor's race, McCollum promised "a new way up" for Florida, apparently introducing the phrase as a campaign theme.

"The hallmark of a McCollum administration will be access and inclusion - it will be one that doesn't look at partisan labels" or race or gender in seeking to solve these state problems, he said.

McCollum's emphasis on newness and inclusiveness may have been an effort to change his past reputation for partisanship and to counter one of the advantages of his likely Democratic opponent, state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, whose reputation is as a fresh, new face in state politics.

But McCollum may have opposition in the Republican primary.

In an interview a few minutes ago, Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson said that he hopes to announce later this week, perhaps as early as tomorrow, whether he'll run in Republican primary for governor against McCollum.

"I'm trying to talk some of my key supporters around the state, and I spent time with the family this weekend," Bronson said. "I have not made my decision. I want some feedback from around the state over the idea of having one person in the race rather than a primary."

Bronson added that he doesn't think Republican voters are pleased by party leaders' efforts to avoid a primary and choose a single candidate in the race for governor or other top offices.

"It totally diminishes the whole reason for people to get excited about a candidate," he said. "You're told, here's your candidate, take it or leave it. I'm not sure that's going to energize Republican voters."

Several county party organizations including Hillsborough's have passed or are considering resolutions opposing the national and state party efforts to have the party side with Gov. Charlie Crist in his primary for Senate against Marco Rubio.

Jason Steele, chairman of the Brevard County party, which has passed such a resolution, said he thinks the same of the GOP primary.

"It is not in the best interest of the people of Florida for the party to get involved in these primaries. We need to have the primaries so the people of Florida can get to know the candidates," Steele said.

State Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer said today he'll ask the state party in July to endorse McCollum.

The state Democratic party, as well as the Florida Democratic Congressional delegation, have lined up solidly behind Sink.

McCollum's announcement of his candidacy is the latest in a recent cascade of announcements coming from state leaders vying for higher office, which began when Gov. Charlie Crist announced last Tuesday that he would run for U.S. Senate rather than seek a second term.

About 24 hours later, Sink announced that she will run for Crist's seat. Bronson is term-limited from running again for his current position, while Crist, Sink and McCollum are all serving first terms in their current offices.

Also, Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp told reporters last week that he may run for attorney general in 2010.