Top Republican U.S. Senator Won't Seek Second Term
By: TheGreenMiles
Published On: 12/2/2008 12:56:21 PM
Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL) won't seek a second term:At an Orlando press conference Mel Martinez just announced that he will not seek re-election after serving out the next two years of his term. He said he made the announcement early to give the "many, qualified" candidates time to organize and prepare. Concerns about a tough re-election campaign had nothing to do with it, he said, noting that he has faced much tougher odds in his public and private life.
Martinez's seat had been expected to be a top Democratic target in 2010 and his retirement throws the race wide open. He won his first Senate race by just 1.1 percent and was plagued by campaign finance irregularities. Martinez had also served a brief term as Republican National Committee chair in 2006-2007.
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