The governor says the White House has promised to stay neutral on GOP rivals for Bob Graham's Senate seat.
By STEVE BOUSQUET
Published December 18, 2003
TALLAHASSEE - President Bush's top political adviser, Karl Rove, gave personal assurances that the White House will not aid Mel Martinez in his bid for U.S. Senate, Gov. Jeb Bush said Wednesday.
"The campaign has already commenced," Bush said in a year-end interview. "It would be completely inappropriate for the White House to be engaged, and I have been given every assurance by Karl that that's the position of the White House. Not just to me, but to everybody."
The governor's comments added new details to his contacts with the administration following news reports in mid November that Martinez was being encouraged by the White House to quit as secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to run for Senate.
"When it came out, I wanted to get guidance and just an understanding of what Karl's view of this was," Bush said. "I had several conversations with him, and with my brother when he came down here. ... They're not endorsing him. They're not picking him. He's not the handpicked candidate."
Bush's remarks are the strongest signal yet to Republican campaign donors that Martinez's candidacy does not carry even an implied presidential endorsement. Rival candidates worry that their fundraising could be hampered by perceptions that Martinez, a former elected Orange County chairman, is the White House favorite.
Martinez, who served for three years on the president's Cabinet, resigned last week but has not yet announced his bid for the Republican Senate nomination.
He will join a crowded Republican field that includes former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum, House Speaker Johnnie Byrd, state Sen. Daniel Webster and Miami lawyer Larry Klayman. Bush must deal closely with Byrd on major legislation in 2004, and he has been close to Webster for years.
Gov. Bush also dismissed as inaccurate news reports that he was angry at the White House for not discussing Martinez's political plans in advance. "No acrimony," Bush said. "No frustration."
