Kendrick Meek has brought in some top talent to his just-announced U.S. Senate campaign: Steve Hildebrand, Barack Obama's deputy national campaign manager (focused heavily on Miami-Dade in the final weeks), and the former political director of the DSCC.

Meek's statement this morning: "Public service and a commitment to make a better life for the people of Florida has been my mission. I've given Florida a strong voice on the powerful House Ways and Means Committee and was appointed by the Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives to the House Leadership. But never in my lifetime have the people of Florida been faced with so many big problems.  Our state needs bold leadership at every level, and that is why I've made the decision to run as a candidate for the United States Senate. This race is not about me -- it is about Floridians. I am running for Florida, and I am asking Floridians to run with us in this race. 

"Thanks to the leadership of President-elect Obama, change has come to Washington. But it won't be easy. There will be opposition from many powerful forces who have stopped us before. We cannot let obstructionists stand in the way of helping the people of Florida. I want to be a fighter for Florida with a strong voice that won't let the special interests stand in the way of what's right. Too many in our country are hurting. Too much is at stake. We have no time to waste."

Other politicos we hear will be helping Meek: fundraisers Ira Leesfield and Jeremy Alters, Marcus Jadotte, and two Tampa Bay-based former executive directors of the state Democratic Party, Mike Hamby and Ana Cruz.

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