Tampabay.com
APRIL 01, 2009

If Charlie runs for Senate ...

U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam, the Republican candidate for state ag commissioner, will ... stay in the ag race, he tells the Buzz in D.C.

At 34, Putnam, of Bartow, is one the Republican Party's brightest stars. When he announced he would leave the U.S. House at the end of this term, his decision to run for state agriculture commissioner was seen largely as a placeholder until he could run for governor -- most likely after Gov. Charlie Crist's second term, in 2014.

But even if Crist opts to run for the open U.S. Senate instead of seeking a second term, Putnam says he's staying put.

"I have come ashore and have burned the ships behind me," he said. "We're full steam ahead. I am totally focused on agriculture commissioner."

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For Florida political news today, the Buzz is your can't-miss-it source. Tampa Bay Times writers offer the latest in Florida politics, the Florida Legislature and the Rick Scott administration. Keep in mind: This is a public forum sponsored and maintained by the Tampa Bay Times. When you post comments here, what you say becomes public and could appear in the newspaper. You are not engaging in private communication with candidates or Times staffers.

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