Big news! Former Florida governor Jeb Bush has announced that he will not run for senator in 2010. This is a huge hit to the GOP's chances of retaining the seat of retiring Sen. Mel Martinez (R-FL). While the Bush name is mud in most of the country, Jeb left office quite popular and would have been the 800-pound gorilla in the Senate race. Now the Republicans are going to have to make do with one of the standard-issue 300-pound gorillas. A nasty primary (possibly on both sides) is to be expected.
Roland Burris, Gov. Rod Blagojevich's appointee to the Senate showed up yesterday at the Senate and was refused seating. However, some Democrats are now having second thoughts. In particular, Sen. Diane Feinstein broke ranks and now says Burris should be seated. As expected, it is all about race, with Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL) and Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) urging that he be seated. This story is not over yet.
The Great Minnesota Senate Election Saga continues to play out. Former senator Norm Coleman has gone to court to try to overturn the election of Al Franken (D) to the Senate. Franken's election was certified by the state canvassing board Monday. Coleman will argue that certain absentee ballots were improperly rejected and that some ballots in Democratic precincts were counted twice.