Republican contenders for Bob Graham's seat would have to make room for Mel Martinez, the White House's favored candidate.
By ADAM C. SMITH and LUCY MORGAN
Published November 13, 2003
U.S. Housing Secretary Mel Martinez is poised to enter the wide open race to replace U.S. Sen. Bob Graham.
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.
Former state House Speaker John Thrasher got a call from his old law school buddy Monday. He would not disclose details, but when asked if Martinez indicated he was running for Senate, Thrasher said, "I think things are moving in that direction."
Martinez could not be reached Wednesday for comment.
It would be his first statewide campaign, and he would have to catch up with other Republicans who have been organizing and raising money for months. Still, he would bring considerable strengths to the campaign, especially the perceived imprimatur of his boss, President Bush.
The Cuban-born lawyer also brings a national profile and an opportunity to energize Florida's growing Hispanic population, particularly Central Florida swing voters coveted by both major political parties. As the former president of Florida's trial lawyers association, he could be well positioned to raise money from a group that usually bankrolls Democrats.
"He definitely would be a player," said prominent GOP fundraiser Al Austin of Tampa, who had not heard of Martinez's Senate talks.
Martinez is expected to be by the president's side in Orlando today for a Bush-Cheney fundraiser, where several other Republican Senate hopefuls also are expected. Other Republicans in the race include state House Speaker Johnnie Byrd of Plant City, former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum of Longwood, state Sen. Dan Webster of Winter Garden, judicial watchdog and conservative activist Larry Klayman of Miami and Pinellas County Commissioner Barbara Sheen Todd.
Many Republicans quietly have grumbled about the lack of a heavyweight candidate for the open Senate seat, and some worry that the field lacks any moderates.
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.
Smith spoke to Martinez Wednesday and said he "is definitely thinking about running."
The lack of a marquee Republican name in the Senate race is partly why national Republican leaders, including White House political adviser Karl Rove, urged Martinez earlier this year to run.
U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris of Sarasota, whose pivotal role as Florida's secretary of state after the 2000 presidential election made her a national name, caused a stir last week when she said she is seriously looking at running.
A spokesman for Harris said she continued to receive encouragement to run. "I can tell you she believes (Martinez) would be an outstanding candidate for the United States Senate," said David Host.
Many Republicans believe the White House wants to avoid sharing the ballot with Harris, who may energize Democratic voters still bitter about the Florida recount. Martinez's renewed interest in the Senate fueled speculation that the White House wants to keep Harris out of the race.
"The timing is certainly interesting. Mel had indicated he was not interested in the race before. A lot of people didn't think he was going anywhere. Maybe it's just an odd coincidence," said Stipanovich, a close Harris ally.
Martinez has been adamant in the past that he would not run for Senate. Instead, he was seen as a likely candidate for governor in 2006, and the presumed favorite of the Bush family, including outgoing Gov. Jeb Bush.
"I view myself as more in the executive mold than I do in the legislative mold," Martinez told the Miami Herald in mid June. "I'm not running for U.S. Senate. I can close that door and close it shut."
Some Republicans suggested Wednesday that Martinez could have a tough time peeling support from people already committed to others.
"When somebody tells you, "I'm not running; I'm thinking of running for governor in 2006,' you take them at their word," said U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart, R-Miami, who is backing McCollum. "The primary is in early September, and in political terms that's just around the corner. I think we should all be coalescing around Bill McCollum. He's our strongest candidate."
The Democratic and Republican primaries are winner-take-all elections, without a runoff. In a crowded field, that means someone could win the nomination with significantly less than one-half of the total votes.
A Martinez candidacy means three Republicans would share an Orlando base. Martinez also may have to explain to conservative Republican voters and business interests his ties to trial lawyers and his support for restricting development as county executive in Orange County.
A recent poll of Florida voters, conducted for a private business client, showed Martinez was largely unknown. The October survey of 400 people - two-thirds of them Republicans - showed Martinez was viewed favorably by 20 percent and unfavorably by 8 percent. Another 39 percent said they had never heard of him and 33 percent had no opinion.
The poll tested Martinez's strength not as a Senate candidate, but as a possible contender for Florida governor in 2006. Two other possible gubernatorial candidates, Attorney General Charlie Crist and Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher, were better known, and Crist's favorability rating of 41 percent was more than twice as high as Martinez's.
Another poll from earlier this month by McCollum showed more than half of Republican voters are undecided in the Senate race, but Martinez is in fifth place among possible GOP candidates. McCollum led with 15.5 percent, followed by Harris with 11.3, Crist with 7.5, Gallagher with 5 and Martinez with 4 percent. Crist and Gallagher are not expected to enter the race.
- Times staff writers Bill Adair and Steve Bousquet contributed to this report.
