TREASURE ISLAND -- Max Linn said today that he’s in the race for Congressional District 10 after all.

Linn’s campaign sent a press release to media outlets on Friday with the headline “Max Linn Announces Suspension of Campaign.” He did not respond to several requests for comment. In an interview Saturday, he said the release was an "error," a "mistake" and it was “misinterpreted by some people.” He said he never intended to drop out. He would not explain why he sent out the release, which you can read here.

“No one has ever heard the words ‘quit’ or ‘stop’ out of my mouth,” said Linn, who ran as the Reform Party candidate for governor in 2006.

He said he discussed suspending the campaign for personal reasons on Friday but it "in no way shape or form meant dropping out or quitting."

To the contrary, he said next week the campaign will launch an innovative national fundraising Web site, and that former Democratic National Committee finance chairman Bob Farmer will head up the operation.

Also vying for the seat are Democrats Samm Simpson, a freelance broadcaster and former marketing executive who won 34 percent of the vote against Young in 2006, and Bob Hackworth, the mayor of Dunedin.

--Stephanie Garry, Times Staff Writer