Allen West for Senate - the idea is catching on.
08/17/2011
Returning yesterday from a trip that took Crowley Political Report to Charleston, Washington, Boston and Chicago, we find that there is surging interest in the idea that Congressman Allen West should run for the U.S. Senate.
This is not a new idea to CPR. On July 12, we wrote:
Seriously, isn't Allen West the best GOP candidate to run against Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson? ... Politics is about money and timing. West has said he is not interested in running for the senate but money and timing suggest there may be no better time than now for the former Army Lt. Colonel. ... Should West decide to run for the U.S. Senate, much of the GOP field will collapse shortly after his announcement.
More of our July 12 report is here.
On Sunday, West told WPTV-Newschannel-5 program To the Point - "I am running for congressional reelection that is the most important thing right now."
...
Interviewer Michael Williams asked: "Can you be talked into a senate run in 2012?"
West replied: "Right now, no."
Williams: "Right now no, but you'll leave the door open?"
West: " ... I can never say definitely what will happen in your life but right now that's not my intention."
West also acknowledged that some Republicans have asked him if he would be interested in running.
On Monday, the Sun-Sentinel also reported that West may be willing to consider a senate race.
West said his intention – at this point – is to run for a second term as a member of the U.S. House from Broward and Palm Beach counties.
But, he said, he’s opened the door to discussions on the possibility.
“I cracked it open enough so that people can slip a note under the door and I can read the note and I can write back on the note ‘probably not’ and send it back out under the door,” West said before he spoke to a Palm Beach County Tea Party gathering.
“There are people here in the state of Florida that see me as a political entity and they are very trustworthy within the Republican Party structure. I should sit down and talk to them,” he said. “But I don’t think people are really going to be able to move me.”
Read more of the Sun-Sentinel account here.
This has led to the Washington Post blog The Fix to suggest the same thing that CPR suggested last month, this may be West's best opportunity.
He has been the top fundraiser among vulnerable House incumbents this year – raising much more than any of the Florida GOP Senate cadidates last quarter ($1.6 million), including Haridopolos – and his conservatism will rarely be called into question.
Read more from The Fix here.
Yesterday there also was speculation about a West senate run in Politico and other publications.
No one is more interested in West's final answer than GOP candidates Adam Hasner, George LeMieux, Craig Miller and Mike McCalister.
If West gets in, it will dramatically shake up the GOP primary.
Art by Chicago artist Brian J. Crowley
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