Martinez won't seek re-election; Sink will

U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez plans a major announcement in Orlando shortly, and a highly placed Republican source says Martinez will announce that he's not seeking re-election and that he may leave his seat in advance of the end of his term in 2010. That would open the door for Gov. Charlie Crist to appoint a replacement in advance of a wide-open Senate race in '10.

In another development, Democratic Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink is expected to announce later Tuesday that she will seek re-election to her Cabinet post in 2010, forgoing a possible bid for either Martinez's Senate seat or governor.

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Comments

I wonder if Sink will officially change her mind with Martinez not running?? I am going to wait until she announces it herself to believe it.

[Ricky]

Kendrick MEEK FOR SENATE'08

[terminator]

Martinez:
what a wussy. won't even finish his term.
talk about a failure. what did this guy accomplish after almost six years in DC?
Florida must do better than this.
probably going back to the "private" sector so he can keep screwing the taxpayers.

Marco Rubio for Senate seat to be appointed by Gov Crist when Martinez steps down.

Allan Bense!!!!

10:41am -

There are approximately 18 million Floridians that Charlie Crist would appoint ahead of Marco Rubio.

Jim Greer for U.S. Senate!

Justin Sayfie for Senate!

[Kathy]

I hope hes not sick..

I hope he is sick.

Kathy,

He's sick of being in the senate.

And he's going to make a whole lotta money.

[Joe]

What a day for FL politics! This at the same time AIF meeting in Georgia to talk merger with the state chamber.

[Bland]

J.E.B. Bush, folks........

The fix is already in..........

For the GOP, this is their time, this is their moment........

Dave Aronberg for US Senate!

If I were CC, I would pull an obama or atwater....appoint rubio so it keeps rubio from running against me in 2010 ....that is what I think

[Howard]

Mark Foley for US Senate!

[Bob A]

Martinez saw the hand writing on the wall and decided to go back to being a PI lawyer. Jeb Bush would be the strongest GOP candidate.

[Casey]

Jeb Bush would be an excellent candidate here. I wish Mel would leave now and give the new nominee time to amek a name for his/her self.

Bouleware for Senate!

No one is appointing anyone, people. the guy said he's not seeking re0election. He didn't say he was resigning before his term ends.

Adam Putnam!!!

Debbie Wasserman Schultz for U.S. Senate. She wins easily.

[Mike]

Marco Rubio for U.S. Senate!!!!

Sure Jeb Bush would have a great time in the Senate with a Democrat majority.
NOT!

[Bland]

Adam Putnam would be super choice.

He is a young lion with a big future.

20 years or less, I expect him to run for the White House.....

Not a bad idea.....

Marco Rubio would be great as would Will McBride.

[Ernie]

The people elected Sen. Martinez with the expectation he would complete full terms as a U.S. Senator. For him to leave his position prior to his term ending would be nothing more than cheap politics unless he is legitimately ill and/or unable to perform his function. If Sen. Martinez does leave his post prior to his term ending and he has no medical excuse, then people ought to look negatively at the Republican Party for pulling such a stunt. The Republican leaders, especially Gov. Crist, should show more sense and urge Sen. Martinez not to leave his post prior its ending.

[ConanTheLibrarian]

Any chance Kathy Castor would run to avenge her mother?

I would love to see a Adam Putnam-Debbie Wasserman Schultz race!

Gov Crist will appoint Jeb Bush if Mel leaves early

Florida Luvs Jeb!

Best Governor Ever.

[Terry Lee]

Adam Putznam, yeah thats the ticket a trust fund baby who still needs help wiping his butt.

[Mugzi]

Please, haven't we had enough of the bushes???

[James]

Jeb is the best and was also the best governor this state has ever had. Jeb would win hands down and Sink is so weak she was afraid to even run against Mel Martinez and that tells you how strong she thinks she is. Crist is a wimp with no guts or conviction and it would be fantastic to have a strong leader here in Florida again. If Crist wasn't governor Jim Greer wouldn't have any bags to carry and nothing to do so we would have to add one more name to the unemployment numbers.

[James]

Jeb is the best and was also the best governor this state has ever had. Jeb would win hands down and Sink is so weak she was afraid to even run against Mel Martinez and that tells you how strong she thinks she is. Crist is a wimp with no guts or conviction and it would be fantastic to have a strong leader here in Florida again. If Crist wasn't governor Jim Greer wouldn't have any bags to carry and nothing to do so we would have to add one more name to the unemployment numbers.

www.dangelber.com

[Peter, Paul, and McToady]

Jeb is the worst governor this state has ever had. He is also brother to the worst President the United States has ever had. Jeb would win hands down in some third world country where elections are rigged and people are afraid to vote against the very people who are enriching themselves at the people's expense. Here in the USA, it's difficult, though not impossible to cheat, as Jeb knows. Despite that, he blew his wad getting his brother elected, and combined with all the sweetheart deals he's known to make at taxpayer expense, and our horrid educational system, which he ruined with his stupid vouchers, he really doesn't stand a chance of defeating an honest, well qualifed challenger like Alex Sink.

[Jack]

Looks like the beginning of the Jeb Bush campaign for President in 2012 or 2016. It has never been a question of "if", rather a question of "when". A position in the U.S. Senate is a perfect positioning of himself for the run for the Presidency to which the Bush family feels a royal entitlement.

Alex Sink is an idiot. Look at what she has done: nothing except let an embezzler take millions from our state coffers.