Boyd serious about Senate race

U.S. Rep. Allen Boyd, D-Monticello, is seriously considering a run for the Senate and will make up his mind by mid January. He didn't say it, but his tone in a phone conversation a few minutes ago sounded to us like a candidate more likely than not to jump in.

"I want a good partner for President-elect Obama in the United States Senate from Florida,'' said Boyd, 63, a 12-year incumbent and former state House member.

He said he is talking with family, prospective donors, and others as part of his due diligence, and weighing whether he wants to leave a job he enjoys. He has been talked about as a potential candidate for agriculture commissioner or governor, but Boyd said the Senate is the only new office he's really considering.

He said the decision this week by Republican Mel Martinez not to seek reelection in 2010 didn't change his plans, but "obviously changed the dynamics."

Other potential Democrats include CFO Alex Sink, state Sen. Dan Gelber, and -- at least according to growing political chatter -- Betty Castor. Asked about Sink, a fellow moderate and friend, Boyd implied he and Sink would work it out.

"I would never want to see two folks who would serve this state well ever run against each other in a primary," he said.

Boyd, a farmer, is a leader within the congressional Blue Dogs, a group of moderate and conservative Democrats mostly from rural and Southern districts. Its ranks have grown in the past two congressional elections, at the expense of Republicans, and Boyd's clout has grown with them.

Having raised money and campaigned for dozens of House members, Boyd has lots of chits to cash in, and would likely be a strong fundraiser. He also serves on the House Appropriations Committee, whose members tend to draw cash like bees to honey.

Adam Smith and Wes Allison, Times Staff Writers

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Comments

Oh dear God, no...

If Sink runs, I hope Boyd runs against her. They would split the conservative Democratic vote and probably split north Florida.

Kendrick Meek would carry south Florida and win the primary.

As for Boyd, I would support him for AG Commissioner, thats it. Boyd is the guy who sided with Bush on putting social sec in the stock market. Boyd is the guy who voted to limit punative damages in malpractice cases. Boyd "says" he will be a working partner for Barack Obama in the Senate. Senator Allan Boyd would be like having Senator Zell Miller back in the Senate. Go for AG Commissioner, serve two terms and then retire Congressman.

Republican had a chance to ding this guy hard and they didn't. They were told early on this guy is looking at Senate.

I hear he has a liberal stance on immigration.

[Bill]

Great, we lead the nation in real estate corruption, mortgage fraud, mortgage defaults, our education system is next to last, and the"Enabler" wants to be our Senator. Can't we get this guy to just go away?

[sheila]

Maybe being a US senator would help more than being a Rep to get his son off the major drug and smuggling charges he faces out west these days....

Rep. Boyd is loved by his district, and by people throughout the state. Run Allen Run!

Not a good voting record to run statewide...no statewide fundraising base..not that smart..overweight..has no idea of what it takes to run statewide...nice guy, time produce something for the district......no chance..someone needs to give him a reality check.....

What are some of these people thinking ? Does Boyd realistically think he could get over 30% of the vote !

I think Obama probably wants a partner who didn't vassilate when asked if he supported Obama. If I remember, he told the press he was undecided in the race about a month out and would not endorse Obama.

Sorry but Boyd won't fly with Florida voters. Florida is looking for a senator who is younger, is vigorous, and will help jumpstart Florida and America's economy back to better times. Retreads serving in congress now like Boyd, Ginny Brown-Waite, and Adam Putnam need not apply for this senate position.

Too bad Boyd is the only one who is serious about his candidacy.

Boyd must be snorting what his son is smuggling if he thinks he has a chance in hell.

I don't think Boyd has what it takes to mount a formidable statewide campaign. He is loved by his district but in order to win a Democratic primary he is going to need to win in south Florida. I can't see south Florida voting for Boyd in a Senate primary. The only way Boyd would have a shot is if Sink sat the race out and multi south Florida candidates ran and split the south Fla vote.

I agree we need a young Senator who understands the issues facing us in Washington and is ready to work with Obama to get the country moving. That is why I support Kendrick Meek for US Senate.

I think you people are seriously underestimating Boyd as a candidate. He has a strong moderate record that will play amongst moderate republicans. Remember this is a Democrat who is wildly popular in a panhandle district. He would dominate a general election.....Problem is the primary, I don't doubt the fundraising capabilities, but the lack of traction in South Florida could be a problem.

He will be an excellent candidate and an outstanding Senator.

The lack of traction in South Florida will be a very big problem. Also explaining his vote to put soc security in the stock market to depression era retirees in Century Village will be a big problem. Why didn't he come out for Kerry strong in 2004 or Obama in 2008? He now wants Democrat's to back him.

Of course he'll appeal to Republican's, he votes with there President.

Take my advice Congressman, you are a farmer, a Congress, former Dem Leader in the state House, well know in the agriculture community, you live outside Tallahassee, run for Agriculture Commissioner, you can drive back and forth to work everyday. Job pays over $100k and your on the state cabinet. Boyd for AG Commissioner!

I would support Ausley for his US House seat.

Funny you say he votes with the Republicans...Here in District 2 his Republican opponent continually bashed him for "Voting with Nancy Pelosi 94% of the time". His strength among Republicans is that he appears to be conservative. Very good politician.

[RD]

Allen Boyd is the Democrat who can beat Jeb Bush in a general election.

Don't count the Boyd Campaign out on this one. He has a lot of friends in Florida and he loves our state immensely.

Time to warm up Boulware for congress!!

What about Janegale Boyd? Why not allow her to run for Senate?

the republican party is in shambles, the democratic party is fired up and organized. although its an uphill battle for money and name recognition, any dem candidate that makes it through the primary stands as a serious threat against bush. 30%, 45% talk is just rubbish...it will be a close contest either way and it will boil down to a lot of luck (unless the republican party can get its house back in order)...then it will be close and Bush's

If Boyd runs then his district needs someone with a good strong family, who has family values, who understands the needs of this sprawling district and can blend higher education needs with agricultural understanding. Tough match, but my guess is there must be someone who can embrace multiple worlds and not be like Boyd has been, talking out of one side of his mouth about being a "conserrvative" while voting with Pelosi/Franks most of the time. He keep getting opponents from the western end of the district. A solid candidate from Leon County with surrounding family ties to other counties would beat him.

9:42 has no idea what they are talking about. If Jeb Bush runs it is his and no major Democrat will challenge him. He is very smart, articulate and the best his family has ever had to offer.

LAWSON FOR CONGRESS!

Lawson cannot even speak an entire sentence without you having to ask yourself, what did he just say?

9:42, if the Republican Party is in such shambles, why did Cambliss win with over 60% of the vote?

10:37, Chambliss won in GEORGIA, not Florida. None the less, Jeb is probably unbeatable without Obama down here stumping for him.

[South Floridian]

Interestingly, I was polled by what was clearly a poll being conducted for Boyd maybe 2 weeks ago. It asked about various Democratic primary matchups for US Senate, Governor and Ag Commissioner -- all of which had Boyd as a candidate on each list. Then there were maybe 20 questions about how a primary voter would react to specific pluses and minuses about Boyd. It was long telephone survey, maybe 20-25 minutes of questions.

[South Floridian]

I'm not so sure Jeb is as invincible as he once was. Here's the general theme to beat him with: Do you really want to help place the next Bush one step closer to a White House run? His dad had a major recession in 1991-92 ... and his brother totally wrecked the economy (and foreign policy) ... and we're still digging out from the mess. Enough is enough.

[We want Gelber!]

Dear God I hope we get Gelber to run -- yeah, he could lose, but at least his campaign would be about ideas and challenging the status quo.

He's also a guy who can inspire and fire people up, and Steve Schale is a Gelber guy.

Boyd is just the lesser of 'who cares'.

It is wrong to underestimate Dan Gelber. He and Schale made a potent team in 2006 and when it comes to debating Jeb Bush on stage, he's the only one of the candidates mentioned (inc Sink# who has a shot at holding his own. He also has a compelling story: former federal prosecutor, head staffer to sam nunn's anti-terrorism efforts (two things that make him very un-south florida) and very effective legislator.

Mayor John Marks will take Boyd's House seat

Four Dem candidates who can win that seat: Larry Campbell, Janegayle Boyd, Scott Clemons, or Loranne Ausley.

Who is Scott Clemons?

Janegayle Boyd and Ausley would be competitive. Larry Campbell, althought popular, will be too old at that point.
Andrew Gillum maybe? the return of Scott Maddox?

Scott Maddox will rise like a phoenix from the ashes of the Florida Democratic Party. Arise Maddox, Arise!

Andrew Gillum could be very formidable. Al Lawson, your joking, right? Maddox would rise and fall overnight. Clemmons use to be a state Representative. Ausley will be formidable but Gillum could be strong as well. John Marks could be interesting.

Clemons is mayor of Panama City and a former state rep. Really solid guy with the conservative credentials a Dem needs to win in that district. Wrong part of district for primary, but right profile foe general.

Allen Boyd in 10!

Jeb! for U.S. Senate

[Jax4Meek]

***KENDRICK MEEK FOR US SENATE '10***

[Armchair Strategist]

if Boyd runs, the gop gets a pickup for an otherwise diffucult seat and knocks off a well entrenched pol. boyd will be about as popular south of interstate four as a traffic jam. please allen, run.