Fla. Gov Charlie Crist Eyes 2010 Senate Race

LeMieux is the Florida governor's former chief of staff

(NEWSER) - Florida Governor Charlie Crist has appointed his former campaign manager and chief of staff to fill the Senate seat of Mel Martinez, MSNBC reports. George LeMieux will represent the state until next year's election, when Crist himself will vie for the GOP nod. “George is bright, capable, and an accomplished administrator," Martinez says. Dems have a dimmer view: “Charlie Crist came as close as he could to appointing himself to this position,” says the party's Senatorial Campaign Committee. More»

Florida senator opens seat for fierce race

(NEWSER) - Florida's Sen. Mel Martinez won't be running for re-election in 2010, leaving open a senate seat that's sure to attract big money and fierce partisan competition. The first-term Republican was a sure Democrat target anyway, given that his constituency is split on whether he deserved another shot in Congress. Martinez is seeking more free time by retiring, insiders tell the Washington Post. More»

Says it's a ploy by rival Marco Rubio

(NEWSER) - The merry-go-round of accusations continues in the Senate race in Florida between Republican Gov. Charlie Crist and his more-conservative rival, Marco Rubio. In the latest, the South Florida Sun-Sentinel is reporting that Crist is ready to ditch the GOP to run as an independent. A Crist spokesman immediately denounced it as a fake story planted by the Rubio camp as retaliation and an attempt to "distract voters," notes Talking Points Memo . More»

Perry and KBH face off; Tea Party mounts challenge in Fla.

(NEWSER) - The 2010 primaries will see the GOP repairing its identity and soul-searching among Democrats. The 10 most important races, according to Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post :

1. Texas governor, R: Rick Perry is running for an unprecedented third term, and voters seem to approve. But Kay Bailey Hutchison is a popular, crafty, and well-funded opponent.
2. Florida Senate, R: The looming battle between Gov. Charlie Crist and former state House Speaker Marco Rubio is being closely watched as a bellwether of the rift between GOP moderates and the insurgent Tea Party movement.

(NEWSER) - Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is, indeed, planning to run for the Senate in 2010, the Miami Herald reports, and will announce his candidacy at a “low key” event tomorrow in Tallahassee. “He loves being governor,” says his former chief-of-staff, “but he also realizes that Florida’s problems have become national problems.” More»