The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

(Page 3 of 3)

, lawyer Larry Klayman and Barbara Sheen Todd , a local county commissioner, are the pick of the Republican litter. /p>

The RNC, as well as the National Republican Senatorial Committee, would like to add a star to the mix. "This seat is suddenly huge for us again," says an RNC political strategist. "We win this and it may mean the difference between 59 and 60 seats."

A lot more has to happen for the Florida seat to loom that large. Campaigns in Alaska and Illinois need to be stabilized and put in play for Republicans. Both are leaning toward Democrats. But even with those two potential losses, the GOP is looking to pick up seats in South Carolina, North Carolina and possibly South Dakota and Washington.

Last Friday, the White House was said to have made one last pitch to Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez about a run in his adoptive home state. The former county executive of Orange County is a classic American immigrant story, and his Cuban roots would energize the Cuban-American community, which has had its ups and down with the Bush administration.

p>At the same time that the White House was talking to Martinez, rumors were swirling that Rep. Katherine Harris was looking at a primary run. Months ago, she denied interest. But on Friday, she said she and her husband might look at the race and consider it. br> /p>

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Law, NATO, Alaska