Crist Nears a Senate Decision

[ccharles000]

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to announce his decision on the 2010 Senate race by May 5 with several informed sources suggesting to the Fix that he is a near-lock to run for the seat being vacated by Sen. Mel Martinez (R).

A Crist adviser said that the governor will not make any announcement before the legislative session ends this Friday. An impasse over how to close the state's budget gap could extend the session, however, or even force a special session. It's not immediately clear how that sort of delay would effect Crist's time line.

In recent days, Crist has been on the receiving end of a fair amount of negative media coverage -- from criticism of his relatively light public schedule and questions about his efficacy in the first three years of his term, to a debate about whether he really is a shoe-in shoo-in to be the next senator from Florida.

Whether due to those criticisms or some other unknown factor, one Florida party insider suggested that Crist wants to speed up his timetable for announcing for the Senate. "Crist may want to announce his bid sooner rather than later so he can started fundraising," said the source. "Buzz around the Capitol is that he's excited to get the campaign going and wants to hit the ground running."

Crist's decision will reverberate not only in Florida but across the country.

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/thefix/senate/crist-nears-a-senate-decision.html?wprss=thefix

[JayMusgrove]

1. Oh Geeze. Who do we have running against him?

[ccharles000]

2. congressman meeks

[TheDebbieDee]

3. Really? Did Congr Meeks already toss his hat in the ring

for that Senate seat?

I've read speculation that Joe "Dead Intern" Scarborough might run for the repuke nom for that Senate seat, as well.