FL: Crist Considers Senate Bid

Roll Call is reporting that Florida's popular Republican governor, Charlie Crist, is "giving serious consideration to running for Senate." Crist, if he entered the race, would be running to replace the retiring Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) in 2010.

Crist already "has had multiple serious conversations about running for Senate with both Martinez and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn," so it looks like he's really seriously considering running. Also, the Democratic field is looking fairly weak now that the Democrats' top recruit, state CFO Alex Sink, opted out of running for the Senate seat.

Crist may be emboldened to run for the seat after looking at Research 2000's latest poll, which shows that he has astronomical favorables and that he would crush any primary and general election opposition.

The other top potential Republican contenders--namely former state House Speaker Marco Rubio and Rep. Connie Mack--are widely thought to be waiting for Crist to announce what he is doing before deciding their own plans for 2010.

Right now, I have this open Florida race categorized as a "Toss-Up", but if Crist entered the race it would quickly change to "Safe GOP." The seat is his for the taking. If he opts out, the Republican primary will be a free-for-all. The only question is: will he be willing to give up the governor's mansion so soon when he could easily be reelected to that position in the same year?

Politico's Josh Kraushaar reports that several Florida Republican operatives are saying that a Crist Senate run is unlikely, "but no one would close the door on the possibility."

Florida Republican party chairman Jim Greer said that Crist won't make any decisions until May.