Putnam: Not interested in Senate seat

U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, one of Florida's brightest Republican stars, says you can scratch him off that list of potential candidates to fill Mel Martinez's U.S. Senate seat.

"I am not giving serious consideration to the Senate seat," he tells Buzz. "You could say my interests lie elsewhere."

Like where? Ag commissioner? Governor? Lt. governor? Well, for now, his Bartow-area House seat, which includes part of Hillsborough County. Putnam, 34, decided not to run for reelection as chairman of the House Republican Conference, the third-highest GOP job there, to focus on legislating, particularly on the Financial Services Committee, which oversees the banking and insurance industries.

"I think I'd leave it at that for now," he said.

Martinez announced that he will not seek reelection in 2010. Potential Republican candidates include former Gov. Jeb Bush and Rep. Connie Mack, son of the former senator, while the possible Dem list includes CFO Alex Sink and Rep. Allen Boyd.

Comments

Adam Hasner for U.S Senate 2010 !!!

5:20 Now THAT ia funny! Thank you for giving me my chuckle of the day.

Putnam wants to be Governor one day. Why would he want the Senate seat? Putnam is going far! Big career ahead of him.

Paula Dockery for Senate!

1) She doesn't like Jeb.
2) She's from Lakeland and would win the 1-4 corridor.
3) She's a moderate which will do well.
4) She's a woman.
5) She has personal wealth that she can put in the race.
6) She has no position in the Florida Senate, thus nothing to lose.

Paula would be great. She's very popular and very easy to like.

Run Paula Run!

Dead on 6:23, Sen. Dockery would be great. She has the demeanor to do it as well. Much unlike JEB who is just another W.

Adam Putnam is a class act and will do great things for Republicans and the state of Florida.

[Bartow Radical]

Adam Putnam is smart enough to know that his rich hick schtick won't play outside of POLK (People of Little Knowledge) County. As for Paula Dockery, she's Ronda Storms without the courage to admit she's a religious radical. She too won't make the cut anywhere near a metro area.

Putnam will run for Governor. Has long been his goal. :)

I wouldn't feel comfortable with Paula Dockery on my local pest control board much less the United States Senate.

That woman is wacko city...

Why don't we have SWAMI Dan tell us what is going to happen? Then he can make the kool-aid for us all to drink???

Adam Putnam did not exhibit strong leadership in D.C. though he held a ranking position.

And he chose the wrong candidate to back in the primary so his political instincts are not great. (weak)

To be the governor of FL you (should) have to earn it, but as we now see that is not always the case.

Sometimes men win by default; aided by the backing of the liberal media. But also because others who should lead by endorsing do not.

Paula has all it takes to win minus name ID which money can buy. Paula can raise the money too.

10:44, Adam is principled; I think that is something Floridians will increasingly crave in their Governor. He can earn it; plenty of time.

Is the Paula stuff a joke? Do people really think she can be a US Senator when all she has accomplished in the Florida Legislature is Chair of Criminal Justice?

[Bernie]

Adam can do whatever Adam wants. He is one of the best legislators to come out of the Florida legislature and I assuure you the number is few. He would make our present Governor look like Buddy McKay. Wait a minute. Maybe Buddy is back. Does CC speak broken Spanish. Yes!...Yes! Adam for Governor!

[Bernie]

Dockery needs more mirrors so she can see herself. She is an over-rated self-indulging moderate who buys her favors with our tax dollars. Give us a break Paula, Doc or whomever wants her out of the way to have her seat in the Senate. Oh, money will be tight for Paula this year in the Senate budget so influences will be somewhat cut back.

[Bernie]

Why is all this discussion involving Empirial Polk County politicians?

Paula may run for Adam's congressional seat.

Because it is IMPERIAL Polk silly!

[Cynical Idealist]

5:20 p.m. aka Adam Hasner...

Will you quit floating that trial balloon?

You aren't going to the Florida Senate, much less the U.S. Senate.

We all know you're a preening, weenie who couldn't have gotten elected in the first place were it not for your scooter.

So, give up the idea of the national stage and start thinking, "Delray City Comission..."

That's much more your speed; like your scooter, kind of slow...

Paula is a good bet to run for Adam's seat and she can win it.

Poll data shows Senator Dockery has a 69 percent approval rate in her district. That's why she didn't get an opponent this year. Much of her district overlaps with Adam's Congressional district. Yes, she can win.

Even the "brightest Republican stars" are dim bulbs these days.

8:22PM - Is a Bartow Radical someone who uses steel shot in their shotgun, instead of lead?

Dockery may have 69% approval but I bet you her name ID is well under 60%. No one knows her cause she hasn't had a race since 96. She would still be a frontrunner.

Dockery will win that seat only because no one else really cares about it. If someone strong ran against her, she'd fold like a deck of cards.

I guess being one of over 500 in congress is still better than being the chair of criminal justice.

Argenziano quits for more money.

Lynn jumps ship to keep Approps.

Garcia sneaks away for decent assignments.

Dean sells out to get a chairmanship.

Dockery wants to quit for Congress.

I guess that leaves Villalobos with Lee Constantine! Nice team work folks.

[North Florida]

Putnam is running for Ag Commissioner. I bet Paula doesn't run...so I'd bet on Dennis Ross. Popular and principled outgoing state rep. Well known in Polk County.

Dennis Ross has more skeletons than Gary Hart.

[A. Lincoln]

Adam Putnam has no future in the Florida Republican Party. Why? He is a principled Republican.

[David]

Hasner doesn't stand a chance. No one knows who he is outside of Southeast PBC. Put down the bong and get real.

Putnam was horrible in his leadership position, why send another Martinez.

Alex Sink can win if Jeb doesn't run.

Rubio would be interesting.

And Ron Klein is still a possibility. He is viewed as a moderate (even though he's not), he can raise a lot of money and he still has 2 million in the bank.

Jeb siad that he was considering it just to freeze the field since it started to become a free for all.

Either way, all we get is another politician.

God, Adam, you're really out of control. Quit thinking you've done more than catch some big waves.