Miami Herald: Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami to run for U.S. Senate

[bushmeister0]

"He is the first candidate to declare his Senate bid, but several other Democrats are likely to join the primary battle.

Democrats considering a Senate bid include state Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink, state Sen. Dan Gelber of Miami Beach and U.S. Reps. Ron Klein of Boca Raton and Allen Boyd, whose district includes Panama City and Tallahassee . . .

With former Gov. Jeb Bush ruling out a Senate bid last week, interested Republicans include Attorney General Bill McCollum, former House Speaker Marco Rubio of Miami and U.S. Reps. Connie Mack, whose district includes Fort Myers and Naples, and Vern Buchanan, whose district includes Sarasota and Bradenton.

If elected, Meek, 42, who succeeded his mother in Congress in 2002, would be Florida's first black senator. If he loses, he will have given up a politically secure seat in Congress while his party is in control."

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/breaking-news/story/850621.html

Smart move. This is good news. Meek is a good egg. I remember, back in 1997 telling a GOP operative at Florida House in DC that she ought to watch out for Kendrick Meek and she didn't even know who he was.

Here's his bio: http://www.sourcewatch.org/index.php?title=Kendrick_Meek

Anyway, let's hope the Repukes pick McCollum to run against him. You recall, McCollum ran once before for Senate and lost, mainly because of his inquisitorial zeal in the Clinton impeachment hearings. I also seem to recall the bad press he got for having a waitress, who served him, fired for coming up to him and telling him she thought he was despicable for the way he and his colleagues were behaving.

And, going back to the Iran/Contra scandal:

Banana Republicans:

"When the Democratic-controlled Judiciary Committee was investigating the Iran-Contra scandal in the Reagan administration, McCollum was one of the administration's most vigorous defenders. A House staffer told Salon Magazine, 'In my mind, he wasn't assisting the White House's coverup. He was part of it.' According to Oliver North's diaries, McCollum was aware of illegal U.S. funding of the Nicaraguan contras during the 1980s, and failed to report this crime."

http://archive.democrats.com/display.cfm?id=112

[Sebass1271]

1. I like the news. He is respected by Dems here in Florida

this one is going to be a hell of a battle considering how "right wing" this state is.

[bushmeister0]

2. I've always liked him mom, too. Though, she is a bit of ditz.