Breaking news- FL Senator Mel Martinez won't run for re-election in 2010 (Wizbang)

This news comes as a complete surprise to this Floridian

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida, who has struggled to boost his approval rating because of close ties to President George W. Bush, announced Tuesday that he will not seek a second term in 2010.
Martinez, 62, said at a news conference that he wants to spend more time with his family, and made his decision public now because he wanted to give other Republican candidates enough time to mount their campaigns.

Martinez was elected in 2004 after serving as the U.S. secretary for Housing and Urban Development in the Bush administration. He served as general chairman of the Republican National Committee for 10 months, resigning in October 2007.

My problems with Martinez stem from his chairmanship of the RNC than from anything he has done as Florida's junior Senator. Who would run to replace him? The list is long

Former Lt. Governors Toni Jennings and Frank Brogan, Former House Speaker Allan Bense, not to mention members of the Florida congressional delegation. It will be interesting to see who will run.

Update- A Wizbang reader reminded me of former Governor Jeb Bush. I blogged in 2006 dismissing the idea of Jeb Bush running for President or being chosen as someone's VP. Those opinions I will still apply to his running for the Senate. The former Governor is back in the private sector, and doing well. I also believe his wife wasn't very comfortable in the public spotlight. No Bush won't run in 2010.

There is a recently retired Florida Congressman who recently said he might not be through with politics. His name is Mark Foley.

Comments (11)

Jeb Bush perhaps?... (Below threshold)

1. Posted by hermie | December 2, 2008 11:53 AM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

hermie:

Jeb Bush perhaps?

Posted on December 2, 2008 11:53

Other than speak out for am... (Below threshold)

2. Posted by ODA315 | December 2, 2008 12:36 PM | Score: 1 (1 votes cast)

ODA315:

Other than speak out for amnesty did this guy DO anything?

Maybe he should step down now and let Crist appoint someone to gain a running start on 2010.

Posted on December 2, 2008 12:36

Less career politicians are... (Below threshold)

3. Posted by Pretzel Logic | December 2, 2008 12:36 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

Pretzel Logic:

Less career politicians are a good thing IMO.

"U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez ... (Below threshold)

4. Posted by Oyster | December 2, 2008 1:06 PM | Score: 2 (2 votes cast)

Oyster:

"U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez of Florida, who has struggled to boost his approval rating because of close ties to President George W. Bush, announced Tuesday that he will not seek a second term in 2010."

Is this a catch-all excuse for every failing Republican politician? For Pete's sake, will one person stand up and own their failures? Mel Martinez turned out to be a bit of a disappointment to many Republicans who voted for him on everything from immigration to off-shore drilling. About all I can think to say is it could have been worse. Betty Castor could have won the seat.

Posted on December 2, 2008 13:06

Jeb Bush? Maybe. Is he a ... (Below threshold)

5. Posted by iurockhead | December 2, 2008 3:05 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

iurockhead:

Jeb Bush? Maybe. Is he a conservative, or just a Republican? One is not necessarily the other.

High approval as governor and a hispanic wife would seem to make him a good candidate in Fla-la-land, though.

Posted on December 2, 2008 15:05

Katherine Harris would make... (Below threshold)

6. Posted by Stan25 | December 2, 2008 4:04 PM | Score: -1 (1 votes cast)

Stan25:

Katherine Harris would make an ideal candidate to replace Martinez. She was running for that seat when the powers in the Republican Party declined to support her. Now she has an open chance to stick it to the Democrats that so hate her

Posted on December 2, 2008 16:04

Good riddance, he's a RINO ... (Below threshold)

7. Posted by Gmac | December 2, 2008 6:44 PM | Score: 1 (3 votes cast)

Gmac:

Good riddance, he's a RINO and an idiot. Maybe there will be some conservative that will step forward to serve the public rather than having the public serve them.

Posted on December 2, 2008 18:44

George P. Bush... (Below threshold)

8. Posted by av | December 2, 2008 7:44 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

av:

George P. Bush

Posted on December 2, 2008 19:44

Adam Putnam has a little ti... (Below threshold)

9. Posted by crazy | December 2, 2008 8:20 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

crazy:

Adam Putnam has a little time on his hands these days since stepping down from Secy of the House Republican Conference...

Posted on December 2, 2008 20:20

Bill, I agree with you abou... (Below threshold)

10. Posted by Mike | December 3, 2008 7:49 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

Mike:

Bill, I agree with you about Jeb Bush ... but Marc Ambinder at The Atlantic is reporting that Jeb might consider running for the Senate after all. This is politics, so who knows?

Posted on December 3, 2008 07:49

The RNC told Martinez they ... (Below threshold)

11. Posted by WildWillie | December 3, 2008 9:04 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)

WildWillie:

The RNC told Martinez they would not support his run. He is retiring for the good of the seat. Jeb will probably run. The wife has a very minor role. The Bush's are public servants first. Crist will be good as will George P. Bush. ww

Posted on December 3, 2008 09:04