Ex-senator from N.H. eyes race in Florida

[Judi Lynn]

Thursday, November 20

Ex-senator from N.H. eyes race in Florida


THE ASSOCIATED PRESS


MIAMI -- Former New Hampshire Sen. Bob Smith said Wednesday he may launch a campaign to return to the U.S. Senate -- representing his newly adopted home state of Florida.

Smith, a Republican who moved to Sarasota last spring, said he has been encouraged by friends to seek the seat of retiring Sen. Bob Graham.

"I'm going to take a look at it, a very serious look at it and probably make a final decision in the next two weeks at the most," Smith said.

Smith, 62, was hired as a real estate specialist in June to sell high-end waterfront properties for Coldwell Banker's Longboat Key office. He served two terms in the Senate before he was defeated by New Hampshire Sen. John Sununu in last year's primary. (snip/...)

http://www.heraldtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20031120/NEWS/311200539/1003/NEWS0102

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

I'll bet he thinks he has a sure-fire advantage with the Cuban-American community, who will get him Bob Graham's spot, just as they helped get George Bush the White House he didn't earn.

Bob Smith was the guy who took it upon himself to go to Miami and stick his head into the Elián Gonzalez story, after the government had to rescue Elián from his drunken great-uncle. You may remember he flew (at our expense, no doubt) the Miami family to the Air Force base, immediately after the INS retrieved the kid. He butted it, and they butted him right back out, thank goodness.

[leetrisck]

1. Oh dear, bush may not like this

He wants his ole buddy Martinez (HUD) to be the one

[Frodo]

7. If Martinez DOES get in the race....

Smith won't have a chance. Less of one than against Sununnu(sp?).

The man is FAR to conservative for Florida (this was the man who dropped out of the republican party to run for President because he didn't think Dole was far enough to the right), AND he's a recent addition (carpet-bagger) to the state.

He wouldn't stand a chance.

But we can still hope?


edit - I had the wrong year for when he ran for President ('96)

[liberalnurse]

2. Oh, what bad luch we have in

the sunshine state.....:puke:

[Divernan]

3. Just what Florida needs - a Yankee carpetbagger!

Must be hot and uncomfortable wearing that rug in the heat and humidity. On the bright side, the more Rs in the primary the better; they'll use up campaign moneys fighting each other and create lots of negative soundbites for the Dems to use in the general election - oh, wait, that's what our Dem presidential candidates are doing to each other too.

[soup]

4. *snorf*

darn it, there goes my coffee

Another plus-
Having been here since way last spring, selling high-end waterfront properties in Longboat Key, he's obviously running as a man of the people.

[tsipple]

5. Worth Monitoring, But Probably Good

Smith doesn't like the Bushies, and a GOP primary fight in Florida is useful.

[Monte Carlo]

6. I don't know if the GOP will support him.

I think it was for the Presidential race in 1996, but Bob Smith briefly left the party for being too flamingly liberal, and the GOP didn't like the defection. They supported John Sununu Jr. in the primary over the incumbent Smith in the recent 2002 N.H. Senate race, who won over Jean Shaheen.

I find it doubtful that the GOP will be able to get behind Smith for that alone, never mind that he's trying to make a move from gray New Hampshire all the way down south to sunny Florida.