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Former Gov. Jeb Bush Won't Run For Senate In 2010

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Jan 6, 2009 6:15 pm US/Eastern

Former Gov. Jeb Bush Won't Run For Senate In 2010

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MIAMI (CBS4) ― Former Florida Governor Jeb Bush said he will not run for the U.S. Senate in 2010 to replace the retiring Sen. Mel Martinez. Bush made the announcement on Tuesday saying, "now is not the right time to return to elected office." Martinez announced last month that he wouldn't seek a second six-year term.

Bush is the younger brother of outgoing President George W. Bush and the son of former President George H.W. Bush. 

Over the weekend, President Bush said that he'd like to see Jeb become President one day.

Jeb Bush said his decision wasn't based on politics, but on his "personal journey." He said his brother's low approval rating didn't factor into his decision, and that Floridians are familiar with his record as governor.

"One of the benefits of being governor is people get to know you and I think people know I love this state," Jeb Bush said. "While I'm proud of my brother and I love my brother ... people know that I'm Jeb Bush and I don't think that would have been a problem." 

Bush served as Governor of Florida from 1999-2007. He won high praise from both sides of the political aisle for his leadership during 8 hurricanes in a two-year period.

His announcement could open the door for another popular Republican governor to run for the open Senate seat, Charlie Crist. The current governor said he wouldn't oppose Bush in a run for the Senate seat, but with Bush now out of the race, the speculation turns on Crist. 

Another possible candidate was the 2006-2008 speaker of the Florida House of Representatives, Marco Rubio, a Republican.

He told CBS4 Reporter Michael Williams that he'll make a decision about whether to run in the next few weeks.  

Political pundits have also mentioned Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum as well as Congressman Connie Mack , Jr., the son of a former Florida senator.


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