The Plot Thickens - Bush Style

Something we all thought was never going happen – Jeb Bush is making moves to run for a legislative office.

Granted, it is the United State Senate, but it was always assumed that the being one among hundred was not, shall we say, Jeb’s cup of tea. He’s an executive type personality.

And I’m still not sure he wants to be one among hundred, particularly on the minority side.

But it almost seems like Mel Martinez’ exit was orchestrated to allow just this moment.

In any event, despite the presumed advantages of incumbency, this seat actually got a lot more competitive now that Mel is out of the picture.

Alex Sink, who had earlier sad she would not run for the Senate, backed off that statement when it became open, but may be inclined to run for re-election as CFO if Jeb runs. If she does run, despite the rumblings from Gelber, Meeks, Wexler, Castor, Boyd and others, the DSCC will probably clear the field for Sink.

If Jeb chooses not to run, it could get particularly interesting in the Tampa Bay area. Attorney General Bill McCollum ran for Senate twice and lost – once in the general and once in the primary – but he hasn’t been shy about letting folks know he’s still jonesing to be a Senator.

And if he does run, expect soon to be former St. Petersburg Rick Baker to throw his hat in the ring. Like, Jeb, he views himself as an executive rather than legislative kind of guy – and the old political joke is that AG doesn’t stand for Attorney General, but for “Aspiring Governor.”