The U.S. representative gauges Republican Party support, such as donations and volunteers, if he makes a bid for Bob Graham's seat.
By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET
Published June 4, 2003
NEW PORT RICHEY - It's not surprising that U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon, one of the few physicians in Congress, would put a campaign in bare anatomy terms.
"The volunteers and workers are the arms and legs of the campaign," said Weldon, R-Melbourne. "The donations are the lifeblood circulating through the campaign."
The question is whether Weldon can build the political muscle to make a viable run for the U.S. Senate in 2004, for the seat held by Democratic presidential hopeful Bob Graham.
Weldon hasn't declared his candidacy yet, but he is openly exploring the idea. Monday evening, he made his first public appearance seeking support for a possible run, sounding out his ideas on the Spirit of '76 Republican Club of Pasco County.
"You don't just say you're going to run for the United States Senate," Weldon told the crowd of about 120 at Kally K's restaurant. "You have to travel around the state, you have to talk to people, you have to gauge their support."
So far, U.S. Rep. Mark Foley of West Palm Beach and former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum of Central Florida, both Republicans, have announced their bids for Graham's seat. A number of Democrats also have expressed interest - but Graham hasn't ruled out the possibility of seeking a fourth Senate term if his presidential campaign stalls.
Weldon, 49, is putting out feelers now to see whether he can sustain a costly statewide campaign. The internal medicine specialist said he spent about $750,000 campaigning in Brevard, Osceola, Indian River and Polk counties when he won his congressional seat in 1994, as part of the "Republican revolution" that took control of the U.S. House of Representatives.
By contrast, Weldon's advisers said, a statewide Senate run will cost between $4-million and $5-million in the primary, and another $7-million to $10-million in the general election.
"By the fall we want to have at least a million dollars in the bank," Weldon told the Times. "We're almost halfway to that point now. And we've got to have the volunteers and the support across the board."
Weldon got a little of both Monday evening from a crowd that applauded his pro-gun rights, anti-abortion platform. He said he supported President Bush's $726-billion tax cut plan and wrote a bill that would ban human cloning, but watched in frustration as the Senate pared the tax cuts to $350-billion and shelved the cloning bill, which had passed in the House.
That, he said, is why he wants to run for Senate.
"I am tired of fighting the Democrats (in the House of Representatives) on all of our priority issues, and when we're done fighting the Democrats, we have to fight the Senate," Weldon said.
The physician's focus on health care issues resonated with seniors such as Roscoe Osbrom, a veteran who has been waiting two years for an appointment at the Veterans Affairs clinic. With more retirees flocking to Florida, Weldon said, the federal government should send VA dollars to where the veterans - not necessarily the clinics - are.
"With his doctor's background, he's more sympathetic," said Osbrom, a New Port Richey contractor. "He knows where people are coming from and what their needs are."
By the time Weldon left the restaurant Monday evening, his aide had a stack of pledges for money and volunteer hours, if Weldon makes a run. Others offered to help later.
"Right now, I can't because it's summertime; I'm busy," said Tom Moore, who owns an air conditioning company in Holiday. Once fall rolls around, however, "I'll work with the folks in the Republican club to see what I can do for them."
- Bridget Hall Grumet covers Pasco County government. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244, or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is hall@sptimes.com
