Alex Sink To Run For Senate

The Hill reports that Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink will soon announce that she is running the the U.S. Senate.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink (D) said she will “very soon” make a decision on her political future, which could include a run for Sen. Mel Martinez’s (R-Fla.) seat, according to a local report.

Sink is seen as the premier potential candidate for Martinez’s seat and is currently the only statewide Democratic executive in the state. The St. Petersburg Times reported that she is close to announcing what she will do next.

Republican activists were angry about Martinez's moderate views on immigration reform. Michelle Malkin publicly advocated for Martinez to be recalled as co-chair of the Republican National Committee. Martinez eventually stepped down.

Martinez was George W. Bush's HUD Secretary. The Senator voted with Bush 90 percent in 2006 and 92 percent in 2007. His ties to the President will not serve him well.

Alex Sink proved herself to be a capable fundraiser and backed Barack Obama doing the presidential campaign. Sink will have access to Obama's Florida fundraisers and her friends in the banking industry. Martinez has been surprisingly inactive in his fundraising. Sink has shown herself willing to work with Charlie Crist and former Florida House Speaker Marco Rubio. The Obama reach-across-the-aisle Democrat is currently in vogue with voters. Creative Loafing's Wayne Garcia described Martinez as "paying more attention to partisan matters than the Congress to which he was elected to represent the state."

Good news for Sink an early Public Policy poll. Sink beat Martinez 37 percent to 31 percent. (32 percent were undecided.) A lot could change from now to the election. Most voters haven't thought about the Senate race.

Martinez's major problem is he is a stiff. The man's picture should be next to the dictionary difination of boring. He is the GOP version of Evan Bayh. Marinez won a close race against the weak Betty Castor; mainly because Bush was at the top of the ballot. The Republican Party is hurting and I seriously question how Martinez will get grassroot Republicans to back him. Sink is likable and has the party estblishment behind her. This seat is in play.

Update: Politico reports Sink will not run against Martinez.