Democratic U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami is expected today to become the first major candidate to jump into the race for Mel Martinez's senate seat.
The charismatic 42-year-old former state legislator and Highway Patrol officer is scheduled to make his announcement at his Miami home this morning, and other contenders for the open Senate seat are likely to jump in as early as next week.
Meek brings to the campaign a large network of supporters across the state and country, having elevated his profile leading the successful 2002 ballot initiative mandating smaller class sizes, holding a sit-in in the office of then-Gov. Jeb Bush in 2000, and leading John Kerry's Florida campaign in 2004. Bill Clinton joined Meek at a private reception for potential supporters in Miami on Friday night.
"He's a very strong candidate. No. 1, he understands the state of Florida from the Panhandle to the Keys," said Democratic consultant Ana Cruz, a longtime friend who was with Meek for meetings in Tampa on Monday. "He's not afraid of taking on big challenges, whether it be in the primary or general election. We certainly saw that in class size. Nobody thought he could do it, but he took on Jeb Bush and won."
Miami is likely to have plenty of representation in the Senate race. Democratic state Sen. Dan Gelber is likely to enter the race next week, and former Republican House Speaker Marco Rubio is expected to announce soon, too.
The would-be Democratic front-runner, Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, plans to make up her mind after Barack Obama's Jan. 20 inauguration. Other prospects include Democratic U.S. Reps. Allen Boyd of Monticello and Ron Klein of Boca Raton, as well as Republican Reps. Vern Buchanan of Sarasota and Connie Mack of Fort Myers, Attorney General Bill McCollum, and former state House Speaker Allan Bense of Panama City.
First elected to the state House at 27, Meek in 2002 stepped into the congressional seat that had been held by his mother, Carrie Meek. Meek, who is married with two children, has never faced a serious opponent in his overwhelmingly Democratic congressional district, and his ability to raise tens of millions of dollars for a major, statewide race remains a question mark.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi tapped the telegenic, politically savvy Meek to lead the "30-Something Working Group" to reach out to young voters, and Meek has been among the most ubiquitous faces in front of C-Span cameras in the House.
"Meek's voting record is toward the center of House Democrats, especially on foreign policy issues," says the 2008 Almanac of American Politics.
Times staff writer Wes Allison contributed to this report. Adam C. Smith can be reached at asmith@sptimes.com or (727)893-8241.
[Last modified: Jan 13, 2009 07:26 AM]
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