Popular GOP Gov. Charlie Crist has set his sights on a U.S. Senate seat, a prize that could help his chances if he decides to run for president and boost his struggling party even if he doesn't.
Republican Sen. Mel Martinez announced in December he won't seek re-election in 2010. Crist is expected to announce via e-mail Tuesday that he's running for the seat, and his strong name recognition and high approval ratings make him the immediate favorite.
Perhaps more importantly, the race could raise his profile if he wants to challenge President Barack Obama in 2012.
Crist, 52, was coy Monday when asked about his political plans several times after an event at a local retirement home complex.
"Maybe I'll have something more to say about that tomorrow," he replied. "I think I'll issue a statement."
But state GOP chairman Jim Greer says he believes Crist, whose was on the list of possible 2008 GOP vice presidential candidates, will seek the seat.
The likable governor, whose ability to charm people is sometimes compared to Bill Clinton's, would be a top prize for the National Republican Senatorial Committee, which has been searching for viable candidates in competitive swing states.
Democrats are also expected to make the Florida Senate race a top priority as they look to hold at least 60 seats, the magic number that would stop a Republican filibuster. Democratic U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek has already deposited about $2 million in his campaign account and received key union endorsements. State Sen. Dan Gelber is also seeking the Democratic nomination.
Crist was elected in 2006 and immediately earned a reputation as populist who's as quick to praise Democrats as he is to compliment Republicans.
His approval ratings remain well above 60 percent even as Florida has become a national leader in home foreclosures and seen its unemployment rate soar to its highest level since 1975. The state went for Obama in November.
He often refers to his political heroes while campaigning, most notably President Ronald Reagan and former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack, whom he worked for near the start of his political career.
He has also shown he can think independently of party leadership, refusing to get involved in the Terri Schiavo right-to-die case when he served as attorney general, taking a "live and let live" attitude on same-sex civil unions and saying he wants to change hearts and not abortion laws.
Crist could be less influential in the Senate than he is running the nation's fourth-largest state, but Washington-based Republican strategist Rich Galen says a Senate bid could help raise Crist's national profile. Despite his popularity in Florida, his name generally isn't near the top of the list of potential Republican presidential nominees.
"The early handicapping of who's the front-runner is almost always centered on senators because the people who do the handicapping are from Washington and so are the senators," Galen said. "I suspect that he can make a bigger splash working in Washington as a senator ... It's easier to get your mug on 'Meet the Press,' so I suspect that if that's what you were looking for, that's not a bad way to go."
But even Martinez acknowledged earlier this year that being in the Senate minority makes it hard to be influential. He said the best he can hope to accomplish is to tweak legislation rather than pass major bills.
"That's true of every other Republican, unless you are a ranking member of a committee," Martinez said in an interview with The Associated Press. He added later that the frustration of being in the minority party contributed to his decision to leave.
But Republican pollster Scott Reed said the Senate experience could be different for Crist because of his executive experience.
"Senators that are former governors have an added cachet and they get a bigger role in the caucus because of their real world experience," Reed said.
And he believes Crist can use the job to become a national leader.
"With Charlie Crist the sky's the limit," Reed said. "I think Crist has a huge future ahead."
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
© 2009 Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
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