After Lincoln Diaz-Balart pulled the plug on his potential Senate appointment, speculation turned to the elderly Rep. Bill Young as the only other remaining choice for Crist to tap from the state’s congressional delegation for the gig. Florida GOP Chair Jim Greer recently leaked that Young was under consideration, but now Crist has made it official:
Gov. Charlie Crist’s press shop just issued an update confirming Crist has asked longtime Congressman Bill Young to apply for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Mel Martinez. But Rep. Young, R-Indian Shores, said earlier today that the topic of Young filling the post did not come up during a 15-minute conversation Saturday night with Gov. Crist.
Instead, the conversation, initiated by Crist, centered on what kind of person would be good for the job, Young said. Young said he told the governor the choice would reflect on Crist as he campaigns for the seat during the 2010 election cycle.
Young, though, is striking a noncommittal tone because, he claims, he’s reluctant to hang it up:
As to whether he would consider it, Young, 78, was cautious about committing.
“I don’t think I’m prepared to say yes or no,” he said. “It’s purely hypothetical.”
On the other hand, he didn’t sound like someone who would be ready to step aside for Crist at the end of the interim term.
“Anybody he appoints is going to have to understand that Charlie says he’s going to run for a full term. That’s a big issue with me,” Young said. “Am I really ready to retire at the end of the term?”
RaceTracker Wiki: FL-10
to self-appoint yourself to the Senate, but why did Crist take it off the table?
Most importantly: he’s very likely to be a Senator anyway in Jan. 2011 (SSP rating: likely R), so it’s not like it’s coming undeserving out of nowhere.
Plus he gets a job that he wants earlier, and leaves a job he doesn’t want. Plus he can claim that as FL Senator, he’ll have more senority (which a caretaker Senator will lose).
Plus he avoids having to make the unpopular (to both the right and the left) decisions as Governor for the next year which can really only harm and not help his Senate campaign.
Plus he can spin it to the rightwingers that he clears the primary field for Rubio to take on Meek.
are there any thoughts of who the Rs would look to run in a special to replace Young in the House?
If Crist does end up doing this it will be because he, unlike most politicians, seems to care more about what the appointment will accomplish (the votes, bringing home pork, etc) than actual political concerns. And if there is any freshman, interim Senator who immediately have alot more clout than any other freshman Senator its gotta be the nearly-40 year House member Bill Young. And a former chair of Appropriations, if im not mistaken. But despite Young’s clout, i dont think Crist will benefit from appointing him. The right will think Young isnt conservative enough, Young could very well change his mind about not running in 2010 (and Crist would only appoint him, and anyone, if they said they wouldnt run) and Young really wouldnt help him in metro Tampa, IMO. As Crist himself is a moderate from that area. And more well known than even Young. By virtue of being a Gov. And he doesnt need the moderate/moderate conservative base in a primary.