Rubio Is In

The Miami Herald reports Marco Rubio has filed paperwork to seek Mel Martinez's Senate seat. Alan Mendelsohn is hosting the private fundraier at his home. Rubio told the Miami Herald he is just "testing the waters." Translation: Rubio is praying Charlie Crist doesn't announce his Senate candidacy.

``When I decide whether to run, trust me, everyone will know.''

That explains filing the paperwork a month ago and remaining mum.

Mendelsohn hasn't been afraid of showering Republicans with financial love. In 2000, Mendelsohn's company contribed $8,800 to Florida legislature races. Mendelsohn gave Tom Feeney $1,400. Which says much about Mendelsohn's taste is politicians.

Rubio can rally the conservative base. The problem is Rubio never ran a state-wide race bfore. Rubio's anti-environment ideas and horrible pitch to increase sales taxes during an economic downtown make easy cannon fodder. Rubio doesn't realize that two-thirds of the economy is consumerism. Rubio is likable and photogenic. He is a better poster child for the GOP then Bobby Jindal will ever be. Rubio's economic policies will be a hard sell in the general election.

Expect Rubio to run for Governor if Crist runs for the Senate. With the state of the economy and budget, it would be wiser for Rubio to run for a Congressional seat or Mayor of Miami. It would be political suicide for Rubio to run during the current economic climate. (Rubio has ambitions far beyond Florida.) My concern is Rubio is truly economically clueless. That isn't what Florida needs in a Governor.