When Republican Sen. Mel Martinez announced on December 2 of last year that he would not seek a second term in 2010, it appeared that the race for the open seat would feature each party’s most popular politicians. Both former GOP Gov. Jeb Bush and Democratic Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink immediately said they were taking a serious look at the race. And, there was a line of other statewide elected officials and members of Congress waiting in the wings in the event they didn’t run.
A month after Martinez’s announcement, Bush said that he would not run. Ten days later, Sink also took a pass on the race. The long lines that had formed behind each seemed to dissipate as most either said they wouldn’t run, or became much less enthusiastic about the prospect of a Senate bid. Suddenly, it appeared as if there was an open Senate seat no one really wanted.
On the Democratic side, Rep. Kendrick Meek announced his candidacy January 13, not quite waiting for Sink to make her decision public. He was followed by
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