Mel Martinez, Bush's secretary of housing and urban development,
said he would not run for the Senate in Florida, where Sen. Bob Graham, a Democrat, is retiring; Martinez prefers to keep his options open for an eventual gubernatorial race.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20031110/1018655.asptoday
The former Orange County government leader, after previously fending off White House urgings to jump into the race, has told fellow Republicans he likely will announce soon that he is running.
"He's calling people all over Florida and telling them
he is entering the Senate race at the behest of the White House," J.M. "Mac" Stipanovich, a prominent Tallahassee lobbyist and Republican strategist, said Wednesday.
>snip<
Former Secretary of State Jim Smith, for example, said he would welcome Martinez in the race.
He said Republicans do not have a candidate yet who could beat former Education Commissioner Betty Castor of Tampa, whom he expects to win the Democratic nomination.http://www.sptimes.com/2003/11/13/State/HUD_chief_may_jump_in.shtmlSounds like he doesn't really want the job, but
Harris has the Republicans scrambling for somebody...? anybody...? Bueller...? Bueller...? they can rain money and blessings down onto in this race.
note- I thought it was Bob Martinez when I first read it, too. Mel Martinez? made me wonder- um, who dat?