Tampabay.com
AUGUST 17, 2009

Lincoln Diaz-Balart 'seriously' weighing U.S. Senate seat vacated by Mel Martinez

12.2006_-_ldb_official_portr        UPDATE: SEE ABOVE.

Congressman Lincoln Diaz-Balart said today he is "seriously considering" seeking the vacant U.S. Senate seat.

The Miami Republican would fulfill a desire by many to replace Mel Martinez with another Hispanic. And the long-serving Diaz-Balart would not face a learning curve in the ways of Washington.

Gov. Charlie Crist has asked several people to fill out questionnaires and Diaz-Balart this afternoon released a statement saying he was "seriously considering" doing so. The other two so far are former U.S. Attorney Bob Martinez and former Secretary of State Jim Smith.

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