by Bob Shaw
When Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida gave up the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee, it was clear he was facing a little trouble back home in the Sunshine State. Now the Cuban-born Martinez is bowing out altogether.
Martinez, a former Cabinet member in the Bush administration and former chief executive of Orange County, has scheduled an 11 a.m. EST press conference today, and sources say it's to announce that he won't be running for re-election in 2010.
Martinez, who did an awkward one-year stint as chair of the RNC and lost a lot of GOP support for his backing of the immigration reform plan advanced by President Bush, is considered one of the most vulnerable Republicans whose terms expire in 2010.
The Orlando Sentinel's Jim Stratton reports that there's nothing official coming from Martinez yet, but word is he's called some top Republicans to let them know he will not run for re-election. One person familiar with the situation said, barring a last-minute change of heart, Martinez will announce his first term will be his last.
His announcement comes a day after the Politico website reported that Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, who had been considered the leading Democrat to challenge Martinez, has decided to run for re-election in 2010 rather than seek the Senate seat or take on Florida Gov. Charlie Crist.
Comments
Looks like a Jeb Bush vs. Bob Wexler (or Debbie Wasserman Schultz?) contest in 2010.
Posted by: flo | December 2, 2008 5:23 PM