Tampabay.com
JANUARY 12, 2009

Meek running for Senate

Kendrickmeek_3U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek, D-Miami, is expected tomorrow to become the first major candidate to jump into the race for Mel Martinez's Senate seat. Meek has called a news conference for tomorrow morning in Miami Gardens.

The 42-year-old former legislator and son of former U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek, should be a significant force in the campaign. He has a national and statewide profile and network, built leading the class size amendment, the sit-in at Jeb Bush's office, and leading John Kerry's Florida campaign in 2004.

And it's a sign of Meek's confidence and scrappiness that he's jumping in the race -- essentially giving up a lifetime Congressional seat if he stays in -- while other candidates wait to see what heavy favorite Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink decides. Other prospective Democratic candidates include Sink, state Sen. Dan Gelber, and U.S. Reps. Allen Boyd and Ron Klein.

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