McCollum out of Senate race

Is Mel Martinez's senate seat cursed? All the big name candidates are taking a pass, including moments ago, ostensible Republican frontrunner Bill McCollum: "Over the past several weeks since the announcement of Senator Mel Martinez that he would not seek re-election, I have given considerable thought to the possibility of running for his United States Senate seat,'' he said.

"The people of Florida have given me the honor of serving them as their Attorney General. Our team has made great strides combating internet child predators, gangs and mortgage and Medicaid fraud, and in providing consumer protection. But there is more to do. "Unless circumstances change it is my intention, at the appropriate time, to announce that I will be seeking re-election as Florida’s Attorney General."

That's good news for every other potential Republican candidate, especially U.S. Rep. Connie Mack IV, who happens to share McCollum's media consultant, Arthur Finkelstein.

Comments

Cornelius McGuilicudy? Give me a break... no more family dynasties!

Well we don't need him in Washington, but we don't need him in Florida either. Vote DEM!

3:42 - Needs a nap

It sounds like Charlie is getting in.

McCollum wants to serve in the Senate. A poll last week showed him with the top name ID and yet he pulls out of the race?

How soon till Charlie announces he's in?

We need General McCollum to stay as AG. He is doing a great job!

Rubio for US Senate!

Buchanan for Senate!

Dittos to you 3:50

Go Bill! Sack the tribes like Tim Tebow!

[Gelber FTW!]

Dan Gelber's gonna ride that dark horse into Washing-town.

3:46 - yes I do... I spelled his name wrong...

Cornelius McGillicuddy IV

4:28 is right. If the Dems end up with Gelber v Meek (even gelber v meek v klein), all of the sudden Dan Gelber, former prosecutor, stumping with Sam Nunn, becomes the I-4 north candidate, even splitting the Jewish vote with Klein, and he is the nominee.

Gelber v. Rubio would be a very interesting and entertaining race, because while it throws the Obama hispanic coalition away, it might open up Gelber to do better up north than Obama did.

Gelber likes the chocolate?

I don't think Gelber will make it past the first round...4:28.

4:42 = Schale

[ANON]

Rubio has no shot, Gelber has no shot. We need new blood in the Senate. No more hacks from either party.

Adam Hasner for United States Senate. No one can keep up with this man's fund raising and grassroots pace.

Senator connie mack IV

[Alan]

Galvano for U.S. Senate.

Charlie Crist is the only candidate who could win this seat hands down.

[P.C]

Great news. we didn't want him in Washington before so why now?

Let's not let Charlie sneak into the back door either.

Enough is enough.

Senator Mack will you pressure the current administration to secure the borders and stop the steady stream of illegals coming to Florida where they drive up taxpayer cost for education, health care and incarceration?

Oh joy we get to keep Howdy Doody

[ignatz]

P. C....

Charlie sneaks in the back door all the time.

Mack is an adulterer who has no problem being part of the repiggie morality police. Do we need to continue this entitlement crap for certain anointed clans? How about someone a bit fresher, less beholden?

Crenshaw for US Senate

Dorworth for US Senate

How about some new faces on the republican side for a change, we need fresh faces that will bring real conservative change

[John Louis Meeks, Jr. (Jacksonville FL)]

Isn't McCollum the darling of the extreme gay lobby?

That's what Senator Martinez accused him of being in the nasty GOP primary back in 2004!

LOL

McCollum was not going to be able to beat Connie Mack

Dan Gelber supported higher property taxes against the people's wishes. He has no chance in hell.

Gov Crist will easily win re-election as Governor and then move to the U.S. Senate in 2012 when Bill Nelson's seat is up. You heard it here first.

Howdy Doodie's self-righteousness ain't necessarily good in the AG office, but we sure as heck don't need it affecting national policy again.

Next thing you know, he'd be impeaching somebody for not going to church.

It's doubtful Connie Mack would have run against McCollum. Now he probably will, and you can talk about his baggage all day, but it was all out in his congressional race and he won big.

the tea leaves...Crist has strong overall polling..however..if one polled Republilcan primary voters .. a fatal flaw would show up...a credible republican candidate could knock Crist out in a republican primary, remember its only a small group of core party voters that determine who is even in a general election if there are multiple same party candidates. The credible republican primary challenger list includes....McCollum? wonder if this is showing some other yet to be announced plans by McCollum?

1:30, it would be intersting for a news outlet like the Times to conduct a poll of consistent primary voters that also voted for Crist to see what the polling shows..I'm surprised sophisticated news and political outlets havent done this yet.

Gelber would be a great choice.......for the Republicans. They should contribute money to his campaign.

1:30 you are incorrect, noone would or could knock Charlie out in a Senate primary. Gov. Crist owns this seat if he runs.

Bill McCollum will end up running for A.G.

Gov Crist win run for re-election as governor in 2010 & then move to the US Senate in 2012. You heard it here first.