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WASHINGTON -- Florida GOP Sen. Mel Martinez has surpassed $3 million raised for his campaign war chest since taking office, well ahead of the pace of most other U.S. senators whose current terms also expire in 2010, new campaign finance reports show.
And with the names of as many as five top state Democrats being floated as aspirants for his job – the latest being Tampa’s freshman U.S. Rep Kathy Castor – the first-term senator is making it no secret that he intends to start focusing even more intently on stocking his campaign war chest.
“I’d like it (the campaign fund balance) to be much better than it is. But I’m also not devoting as much time to it as I need to,” said Martinez. And until he resigned as head of the Republican National Committee on Oct. 19, Martinez also was helping to raise money for GOP candidates across the country.
“Over the next month, or so, we have several fundraisers planned. I’m happy with the response I get when I have them,” he said.
The $3.09 million that Martinez already has taken in between the start of 2005 until the end of last year ranks as high as fourth among the amounts raised by the 30 senators whose seats also are up for re-election in 2010, and who are not now running for president.
Martinez has parted with nearly $2 million of that amount, having to pay off debt from his 2004 race, refund contributions to 2004 donors that exceeded federal limits, and make good on accountant and lawyer fees charged to help untangle his finance-reporting irregularities.
But Martinez still has $1.1 million tucked away, according to his new filing with the Federal Election Commission.
“It’s one of the nasty parts of out work, because who wants to do fundraising? Nobody does,” added Martinez. “But you’ve got to do it, and so finding time in my calendar is becoming an increasing priority”
One reason for that may be that the names of at least five prominent state Democrats already are being floated as potential 2010 aspirants for Martinez’ Senate seat.
The latest is Castor.
A potential Martinez-Kathy Castor race would deliver especially unusual overtones to a campaign that go beyond political to the personal. That’s because it was Castor’s mother, Betty Castor, who ran against Martinez in 2004 and narrowly lost.
Castor’s chief of staff Clay Phillips says the congresswoman remains focused on her work in the U.S. House, and on her re-election bid this fall. He added, “We’ve been working real hard here (in Washington) the first year to do what we can to have some impact for the district.
But when pressed about speculation that Castor may be already considering running for the Senate, Phillips said she isn’t ruling it out.
“I would think that with the amount of success she’s had, even as a freshman in the House, those are the things people look to when they look for people to run for other offices,” said Phillips.
“I think it makes sense,” he said of the speculation.
Other names of possible Democratic candidates for Martinez’ seat in 2010 include Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink; state House Minority Leader Dan Gelber; former U.S. Rep. and gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis; and Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio.
Responds Martinez: “I think that’s par for the course."
“People want to be Senators. Particularly, House members,” said Martinez.
As for the number of Democrats whose names already are being floated, Martinez said, “let’s see how many file the filing fee,” to actually become a candidate.
Martinez added that he ran and emerged the victor in 2004 against a fairly crowded field, when was “a lot less known and had a lot less resources.”
Click the play button below to hear Sen. Mel Martinez talk about his fundraising and plans to run for reelection.
Reporter Billy House can be reached at bhouse@mediageneral.com or 1 (202) 662-7673.
And with the names of as many as five top state Democrats being floated as aspirants for his job – the latest being Tampa’s freshman U.S. Rep Kathy Castor – the first-term senator is making it no secret that he intends to start focusing even more intently on stocking his campaign war chest.
“I’d like it (the campaign fund balance) to be much better than it is. But I’m also not devoting as much time to it as I need to,” said Martinez. And until he resigned as head of the Republican National Committee on Oct. 19, Martinez also was helping to raise money for GOP candidates across the country.
“Over the next month, or so, we have several fundraisers planned. I’m happy with the response I get when I have them,” he said.
The $3.09 million that Martinez already has taken in between the start of 2005 until the end of last year ranks as high as fourth among the amounts raised by the 30 senators whose seats also are up for re-election in 2010, and who are not now running for president.
Martinez has parted with nearly $2 million of that amount, having to pay off debt from his 2004 race, refund contributions to 2004 donors that exceeded federal limits, and make good on accountant and lawyer fees charged to help untangle his finance-reporting irregularities.
But Martinez still has $1.1 million tucked away, according to his new filing with the Federal Election Commission.
“It’s one of the nasty parts of out work, because who wants to do fundraising? Nobody does,” added Martinez. “But you’ve got to do it, and so finding time in my calendar is becoming an increasing priority”
One reason for that may be that the names of at least five prominent state Democrats already are being floated as potential 2010 aspirants for Martinez’ Senate seat.
The latest is Castor.
A potential Martinez-Kathy Castor race would deliver especially unusual overtones to a campaign that go beyond political to the personal. That’s because it was Castor’s mother, Betty Castor, who ran against Martinez in 2004 and narrowly lost.
Castor’s chief of staff Clay Phillips says the congresswoman remains focused on her work in the U.S. House, and on her re-election bid this fall. He added, “We’ve been working real hard here (in Washington) the first year to do what we can to have some impact for the district.
But when pressed about speculation that Castor may be already considering running for the Senate, Phillips said she isn’t ruling it out.
“I would think that with the amount of success she’s had, even as a freshman in the House, those are the things people look to when they look for people to run for other offices,” said Phillips.
“I think it makes sense,” he said of the speculation.
Other names of possible Democratic candidates for Martinez’ seat in 2010 include Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink; state House Minority Leader Dan Gelber; former U.S. Rep. and gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis; and Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio.
Responds Martinez: “I think that’s par for the course."
“People want to be Senators. Particularly, House members,” said Martinez.
As for the number of Democrats whose names already are being floated, Martinez said, “let’s see how many file the filing fee,” to actually become a candidate.
Martinez added that he ran and emerged the victor in 2004 against a fairly crowded field, when was “a lot less known and had a lot less resources.”
Click the play button below to hear Sen. Mel Martinez talk about his fundraising and plans to run for reelection.
Reporter Billy House can be reached at bhouse@mediageneral.com or 1 (202) 662-7673.