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MIAMI - Karen Saull, the wife of a prominent Vero Beach businessman, plans to run for U.S. Senate, injecting the couple's fortune into a crowded Republican primary field.
Saull, in her first attempt to win elected office, will spend "whatever it takes" for the seat of retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, her husband, Jeffrey Saull, said Tuesday.
Jeffrey Saull, who has earned millions selling office chairs and candles to retailers and is a major philanthropist and donor to Republican causes, said his wife would benefit from a GOP field without any clear fundraising leader and as the only woman who is a major candidate in the primary.
"These guys don't have too much (money) - that's the easy part. They all have about a million-and-a-half (dollars). Whatever it takes will be real easy with these gentlemen," Saull said.
Karen Saull was not immediately available to interview. She planned to announce her candidacy this week and file papers the first week of May.
She would join a Republican field that includes former U.S. Housing Secretary Mel Martinez, former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum, Florida House Speaker Johnnie Byrd, businessman Doug Gallagher, lawyer Larry Klayman and state Sen. Daniel Webster. McCollum has led Martinez in early polls, with many respondents undecided.
Democrats running include Betty Castor, former state education commissioner who has led in her party's early polls; U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch and Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas.
Jeffrey Saull considered a campaign of his own for U.S. Senate last year and said Tuesday he may mount a campaign for governor in two years.
"She can be a senator and I can be a governor. I've run a $100-million business. I can run this state - it's not a big deal," he said.
For now, Saull is leading a petition drive to get a proposed constitutional amendment to increase the homestead exemption for property taxpayers on the ballot.