WASHINGTON - Sen. Bob Graham will return to Florida by Tuesday to announce whether he will run for re-election or retire.
Graham's chief of staff, H.W. "Buddy" Menn III, told staffers in an e-mail Wednesday that Graham would make the announcement in his home state "on or before Nov. 4. This date is the one-year mark for the 2004 election."
Menn, the Florida Democrat's closest political adviser, said in the e-mail there had been "great speculation, "chatter' and rumor over Sen. Graham's re-election decision," but that staffers "will be one of the first to learn of his decision."
Graham says he has not yet decided whether to retire from the Senate or seek another six-year term. Asked on CNN Wednesday if he was leaning against running, Graham replied that he was "absolutely vertical."
