Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) will be stepping down from the Senate, according to several senior Republican sources familiar with his thinking.He made the announcement at a morning staff meeting, where he said he will not be returning to the Senate after the August recess. …
The decision adds a twist to the Florida Senate race. Gov. Charlie Crist (R-Fla.) is the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, and he would be tasked with appointing a candidate to fill the seat until Martinez’s term expires in 2011.
National and Florida Republican sources say it’s near-certain that Crist will not appoint himself, and instead is expected to appoint a placeholder to fill the seat through the 2010 election.
I’ll keep an eye out for an official announcement. I think that analysis is exactly right, though. Crist will most likely appoint a senior statesman and ally who will serve as a placeholder. Separate from the political implications is the question of why Martinez is resigning early? What is he running away from or running toward? And how much will this further the Palin-Ayotte meme of Republican quitters?
Second, the more expected, but still significant announcement, from New York:
Representative Carolyn B. Maloney is expected to announce today that she has changed her mind and will not enter the primary race against Kirsten E. Gillibrand, New York’s newly appointed senator.A person close to Mrs. Maloney, a Democrat from Manhattan, said she made her decision not to run after days of agonizing over the fact that running meant she would have to leave her current job at a point when she had significant seniority in Congress.
This past Monday, I posted on the public clues that Maloney would back down from the primary challenge; and, it seems that the clues have come to fruition. As with the news from Florida, I’ll await an official announcement. The number one political implication is that, if Senator Kirsten Gillibrand avoids a top tier primary challenger like Maloney, she’ll be able to save the bulk of her rapidly growing campaign bankroll for her general election opponent, making it less likely that a higher profile Republican (like Peter King or George Pataki) would take her on. A primary-bloodied Gillibrand, they might have opposed. Less likely now. Stay tuned!
UPDATE: Answers from Florida may be forthcoming:
Martinez will discuss his decision at a news conference in Orlando at 3:00p.m.
UPDATE 2: Maloney’s statement is out… and so is Maloney. Confirmed:
The right decision for me and the people I represent is to stay in the House of Representatives and use the leadership positions I hold, including Chair of the Joint Economic Committee, to get things done.
UPDATE 3: The Palm Beach Post is quick with news of a placeholder:
Jim Smith is Gov. Charlie Crist’s likely pick to replace U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, a key Republican source has told The Palm Beach Post.Smith, the FSU Board of Trustees chairman, is a former state attorney general and secretary of state. He sided with Crist’s GOP opponent, Tom Gallagher, in 2008, but his son-in-law, Brian Ballard, is a close ally of Crist’s.
But it’s the third paragraph I find most interesting:
Smith and Ballard, who were not immediately available for comment, have reportedly been lobbying for the position for weeks.
Mel Martinez allegedly blindsided the political world with the resignation. So how could Smith and Ballard have been lobbying for a vacancy appointment “for weeks” when supposedly nobody knew a vacancy would exist? For how long has Martinez been planning on quitting his job, and why didn’t he give Floridians more notice?
No loss for me with Martinez
He wasn’t with us on some very important issues(the Sotomayor confirmation to name one), so I feel no pain here. We’re gonna keep this seat regardless. Just my opinion.
Check out my sites-http://conservativestateproject.blogspot.com/
http://2010garacetracker.wetpa…
http://oldrockbands.wetpaint.com/
Actually, SE, Martinez was one of the few that got it right.
Take a look at these numbers:http://www.dailykos.com/story/…
In opposing Sotomayor, Republicans have hurt themselves tremendously with latino voters, already the largest minority in an increasingly diverse and pluralistic society that’s on it’s way to being a majority-minority nation. Martinez, Graham, etc., whether you like this or not SE, got it right. They were taking the road that could have secured your parties future with someone besides old southern whites, but the majority decided to remain a regional rump party. And since the fastest growing latino populations are in the old confederacy, it’s a matter of time before there is no region in the country that’s hospitable to your party or ideology.
Check out Blue Arkansas:
http://bluearkansas.blogspot.com/
se and the senate
i agree with blue arkansas. Martinez was right on Sotamayor. As for Fl with the GOP hell bent on destroying itself witness the townhall mess, or the birthers, or Glen Beck and Rush. i know that se-779 reply well be rush does not speak for the G.O.P. my answer is than why well no gop congressman or senator denounce him. back to the Point Fl is my sleeper i see meek doing very well especially since i See crist losing the primary. the birther/racist contingent is just to significant i think about 40-45% of the primary vote.
Here in PA sestak got in but the previous post i made holds it is worth noting since the switch specter has been more loyal than Ben Nelson, or Blanche Lincoln in fact he has been pretty damn liberal. Know the ugly topic under the surface specter’s health he has has two bouts of hodgkins and in in his late 80′s a lot of people are worried he wont live to a full term and with a gop gov a 50-50 chance we could be right back where we started in jan
se and the senate
i agree with blue arkansas. Martinez was right on Sotamayor. As for Fl with the GOP hell bent on destroying itself witness the townhall mess, or the birthers, or Glen Beck and Rush. i know that se-779 reply well be rush does not speak for the G.O.P. my answer is than why well no gop congressman or senator denounce him. back to the Point Fl is my sleeper i see meek doing very well especially since i See crist losing the primary. the birther/racist contingent is just to significant i think about 40-45% of the primary vote.
Here in PA sestak got in but the previous post i made holds it is worth noting since the switch specter has been more loyal than Ben Nelson, or Blanche Lincoln in fact he has been pretty damn liberal. Know the ugly topic under the surface specter’s health he has has two bouts of hodgkins and in in his late 80′s a lot of people are worried he wont live to a full term and with a gop gov a 50-50 chance we could be right back where we started in jan
Actually, the name’s ARDem
Blue Arkansas is the blog I raise a limited amount of hell on, but thanks for the shout out, lol.Florida is definately one to watch. Meek is running a great campaign, and Crist has some baggage. If he does make it out of the primary against Rubio, ads should definately be run reminding Florida latinos of his opposition to Sotomayor. Additionally, there will be an immigration bill brought to a vote before the primary is over, and Crist will have to take a position on it. If he moves to the right, it’s just one more thing to hit him with when targeting that important block.
But it’s not just states like Florida that will move our way because of this. South Carolina has the fastest growing Latino population in the country, followed by Tennessee. Texas will eventually move our way based on shifting demographics, and Georgia as well. It’s a matter of time before Republicans aren’t safe much of anywhere.
Check out Blue Arkansas:
http://bluearkansas.blogspot.com/
sorry about that ar dem
as far as your post i see texas but that is going to require some work and love. as far as immigration reform i am nervous about bringing it up. i just see massive fundraisers by the gop against the “amnesty party” which is what it well be. also this mean 3 tough votes the climate bill, health care reform and immigration in six months that well kill efca, repealing doma and don’t ask don’t tell . plus we still have the budget votes i see imigration comming up in 2011 to create havoc for the gop running for president and to push texas into play.
Lol, no biggie.
As far as the bills coming before Congress, I’m simply saying what will probably happen. Reid has said he wants to bring immigration reform up this year, and at least one Republican (Graham) is on board with that. It stands a better chance of passing in this Congress than the last one. My fear isn’t the funds it will raise (we should never be afraid of that sort of thing IMO) nor the long term effects, which I think will be positive. My fear is that there is very real evil in the air right now, a deep seated, racist, hate that’s been bubbling under the surface for years. Obama’s election inspired many, but the election of the first black president also ripped open some very old sores and let loose the bizarre hate fest we’re seeing now. That’s the reason we’re seeing all this crazy birther and euthanasia nonsense-hatred is irrational, and the racism felt by these adherance is so strong that it’s lead them to abandon any grasp they may have had on reality. Bringing up immigration is only going to make matters worse, and mark my words, someone is going to do something very stupid and heinous before all is said and done with. Still, sometimes to heal a wound you have to burn it first. As for the other items on the agenda, we knew when we elected Obama that nothing was going to be easy. We also knew we had an ambitious agenda and that, rather than having the luxury of a laundry list we only desire to implement, we are faced with an endless amount of things that need to be done. What was true on election night is just as true today, the only thing that seems to be lacking is the dedication and the optimism among Democrats/progressives to see it through. But things are going to work out ok-I’ll bet both my lungs on it.
Check out Blue Arkansas:
http://bluearkansas.blogspot.com/
Click here for the new senate guru blog…