Republican officials say HUD secretary might make a run for the Senate

[Judi Lynn]

Republican officials say HUD secretary might make a run for the Senate

DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent Wednesday, November 12, 2003

(11-12) 19:16 PST WASHINGTON (AP) --

HUD Secretary Mel Martinez, who ruled out a Senate race last June, is reconsidering in the wake of a fresh appeal from the White House and intends to announce his plans shortly, Republican officials said Wednesday night.

"I know he's thinking seriously about the U.S. Senate," said Jim Smith, Florida's former attorney general and secretary of state who said he had spoken with Martinez earlier in the day. "I think he's still going back and forth, but I know he likes being in public service."

Other officials said Martinez also has held recent discussions with Sen. George Allen, R-Va., chairman of the Senate GOP campaign committee.

Martinez, the Cuban-born former chief executive of Orange County, could not be reached for comment. He announced last summer he would remain in Bush's Cabinet through the 2004 election. (snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/news/archive/2003/11/12/national2216EST0844.DTL


Mel

[La_Serpiente]

1. At least Katherine Harris

is out of the picture.

Howeveer, we'd have a Democrat Cuban American going up against a Republican Cuban American. The Democratic mayor of Miami is running for the Senate seat as well.

The mayor, Alex Penelas, is running. However, he went against the Democrats on the Elian issue:

http://www.sptimes.com/2003/08/31/Perspective/Alex_Penelas_confront.shtml

But I don't really care about that. If he get the nomination, I have the feeling that he would win the seat up against Mel Martinez.

[Frodo]

3. Katherine Harris being "out of the picture" is BAD

People underestimated her ability to win the House race. That made no sense because it was a Republican district. But the state is closer to 50-50 and she is very polarizing (and would help turn out OUR base). Statewide, she would eb easy to beat.

Martinez getting into the race probably clears out the Republican field leaving our guys (Deutsch and Penelas) to continue sniping at each other. They show no signs of "getting it together".

Right now, I don't think Penelas is our frontrunner, so the discussion is moot... but I don't think he can beat Martinez.

[Judi Lynn]

4. Just found an article saying Katherine Harris is still thinking about it

Housing secretary Martinez ruffles U.S. Senate race with possible candidacy

John Kennedy
And Mark Silva Tallahassee Bureau
Posted November 14 2003

TALLAHASSEE · U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris called Mel Martinez a "good candidate" but said Thursday his move toward entering the U.S. Senate race does not end her own thoughts of joining the already crowded field of Republican contenders.

Harris, R-Sarasota, has been considering running since Democratic Sen. Bob Graham said last week that he would not seek election to a fourth-term next fall.

"The most important thing to me is that we have a candidate who can deliver Florida," Harris said. "Mel is a good candidate. If it looks like Mel can deliver the state in 2006, that will be great."

But, she later said, "I'm not going to make a snap decision. I will make this decision on my own timetable, not anyone else's."

The jockeying between Harris and Martinez came on a day when both accompanied President Bush to an Orlando fund-raiser, the president's 17th visit to Florida since his election as president.

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-fmel14nov14,0,7625565.story?coll=sfla-news-sfla

[Bozita]

2. Watch as Martinez overspends his budget while helping needy Americans.

HUD will begin the spending soon.

How gullible are we?