Last month, when Florida’s junior U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-Orlando) announced his retirement, reporters immediately asked Congressman Kendrick Meek (D-Miami) if he planned to run for the seat in 2010.
Meek, a FAMU alumnus, didn’t have much to say other than that he was “definitely looking into it.”
That changed this week, when Meek took a “listening tour” of sorts by travelling across Florida and talking the idea over with Democratic strategists.
In his first extended interview about his 2010 prospects, Meek said he the idea of running against former Gov. Jeb Bush, a likely frontrunner for the GOP nomination, doesn’t faze him.
"I really don't have time for intimidation or fear," Meek said.
Meek believes Floridians, who played a vital role in U.S. President-elect Barack Obama’s victory, don’t want their next U.S. senator to be a thorn in the new commander-in-chief’s side.
“I don't think Floridians are looking for that. They're looking for a U.S. senator to help them with their everyday lives," Meek said. "I wouldn't run to be the flag bearer, running with the flag of the Democratic Party. I would be running for Floridians.”
A Meek-Bush matchup would revive a long-running rivalry between the two politicians. In 2000, Meek and then-state Rep. Tony Hill (D-Jacksonville) staged an overnight sit-in at Bush’s office to protest his One Florida Plan, which decimated affirmative action policies.
In 2002, Bush also vigorously opposed Meek’s proposed constitutional amendment to reduce class sizes in Florida’s overcrowded public schools. In the end, the 2.5 million Florida citizens voted for the measure and it was approved.
Another FAMU supporter, U.S. Congressman Allen Boyd (D-Monticello), is expected to announce whether he will seek the open U.S. senate seat very soon.
Two FAMU supporters consider running for U.S. Senate in 2010
Meek, a FAMU alumnus, didn’t have much to say other than that he was “definitely looking into it.”
That changed this week, when Meek took a “listening tour” of sorts by travelling across Florida and talking the idea over with Democratic strategists.
In his first extended interview about his 2010 prospects, Meek said he the idea of running against former Gov. Jeb Bush, a likely frontrunner for the GOP nomination, doesn’t faze him.
"I really don't have time for intimidation or fear," Meek said.
Meek believes Floridians, who played a vital role in U.S. President-elect Barack Obama’s victory, don’t want their next U.S. senator to be a thorn in the new commander-in-chief’s side.
“I don't think Floridians are looking for that. They're looking for a U.S. senator to help them with their everyday lives," Meek said. "I wouldn't run to be the flag bearer, running with the flag of the Democratic Party. I would be running for Floridians.”
A Meek-Bush matchup would revive a long-running rivalry between the two politicians. In 2000, Meek and then-state Rep. Tony Hill (D-Jacksonville) staged an overnight sit-in at Bush’s office to protest his One Florida Plan, which decimated affirmative action policies.
In 2002, Bush also vigorously opposed Meek’s proposed constitutional amendment to reduce class sizes in Florida’s overcrowded public schools. In the end, the 2.5 million Florida citizens voted for the measure and it was approved.
Another FAMU supporter, U.S. Congressman Allen Boyd (D-Monticello), is expected to announce whether he will seek the open U.S. senate seat very soon.
Two FAMU supporters consider running for U.S. Senate in 2010
This is exciting!
ReplyDeleteNot too exciting. I hear the Dems down south are upset with Kentrick because he supported Hillary over Barack and was already looking for someone to run against him for his current seat.
ReplyDeleteIt's clear that Barack Obama has moved on beyond what happened between him and Hillary Clinton during the Democratic Primary. It's really time for everyone else to follow suit.
ReplyDeleteThat's true, 12:50PM. In the past, I have contributed financially to his campaign, but that ended with his support of HC.
ReplyDelete4:55PM, that's true too. I will throw my financial support behind the candidate the supported pres-elect Obama from the beginning. Following suit.
just damn ignorant.
ReplyDelete