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Ginny For U.S. Senate?

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By TONY MARRERO Hernando Today

The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 4, 2008

BROOKSVILLE - Don't rule out "Ginny For U.S. Senate" signs just yet.

U.S. Rep. Ginny Brown-Waite, R-Brooksville, is pondering a potential bid for the seat that Republican Mel Martinez will leave vacant now that he's decided not to run for re-election in 2010, Pete Meachum, Brown-Waite's chief of staff, said Wednesday afternoon.

"She's seriously considering it," Meachum said.

Martinez' announcement Tuesday that he wants to spend more time with his family rather than serve another term fueled rabid speculation about which candidates might step up for the rare occurrence of an incumbent-free race.

Among the names on the Republican side are former Gov. Jeb Bush and even current Gov. Charlie Crist.

Bush has indicated he's probably not interested, and Crist has been evasive so far.

If Bush did enter the race, "that would obviously be a field-clearer," Meachum said, meaning Brown-Waite, 65, wouldn't bother.

That's all Meachum would say, adding that Brown-Waite wouldn't have any more comment on the matter for now. So it's a waiting game to see whether the "field clearers" enter the race.

Several other Republican Congress members and legislators of both parties either didn't rule it out or said they were interested in the post, The Tampa Tribune reported Wednesday.

They include U.S. Rep. Adam Putnam of Bartow and former state House Speaker Marco Rubio of Miami.

Reporter Tony Marrero can be reached at 352-544-5286 or lmarrero@hernandotoday.com.

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