The resignation of U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez ignites blasts from the political past

The resignation of U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez means the unusually early start in the race to succeed him gets even more interesting before its time.

Martinez's announcement Friday leaves Gov. Charlie Crist with two unappealing options: Either appoint himself to the job, inviting resentment inside his party and easy shots from outside, or appoint a seat-warmer, somebody guaranteed not to hold onto the job after 2010.

Little wonder Crist ruled out the first option within hours of Martinez's announcement.

But the second option has drawbacks, too. There's always the off chance the person selected might come to like a job that Crist already is running hard for.

What to do?

The obvious choice is to reach back into the political past. Find somebody too old to be looking for a new political career and who comes to the job with the goodwill that comes from having been on the sidelines for a while. Someone who looks good compared to some of the clowns running things these days.

Your correspondent is no political genius, so it's no surprise this political calculus already has been performed by many others. But the names being mentioned are such blasts from the past that he believes he can perform a reader service just by explaining who these guys are.

Here are the frontrunners:

- JIM SMITH: What he used to be: attorney general, 1979-1987; secretary of state, 1987-1995; perennial gubernatorial candidate. Political benefits: You can't get more bipartisan than appointing a guy who's run statewide as both a Democrat and Republican. Heck, he might have even run as a Whig before. Unlikely to run on his own since he's untelegenic in a way you don't see much in politics anymore. Plus, he doesn't go over well south of Interstate 4. Drawback: Is distrusted by Republican activists because of his Democratic ties.

- BOB MARTINEZ: What he used to be: Florida governor, 1987-1991. Political benefits: Zero charisma and not all that well-known anymore so there's little chance he'll go rogue and run for office himself. Bonus: He makes Crist's governorship look good by comparison. Plus, he could cross Mel's name off the letterhead and reuse all the old stationery and signage. Political drawbacks: Won't mollify the base. Reminds Republicans that it's theoretically possible to lose gubernatorial races.

- CONNIE MACK III: What he used to be: U.S. Senator, 1989-2001. Such a perfect choice that reportedly he has already been asked and turned it down.

- ALLAN BENSE: What he used to be: Speaker of the Florida House from 2004-2006. Benefits: Liked by party establishment and has a reputation as a good soldier. His agenda as House speaker was to do what Gov. Jeb Bush wanted done. Drawbacks: At 57, he's hardly at the end of his career -- in Senate years he's just a kid. He might get ideas.

- TONI JENNINGS: What she used to be: lieutenant governor, 2003-2007; Senate president, 1997-2000. Political benefits: Who says Republicans are just a bunch of old white guys with Southern drawls? She's efficient, smart and so responsible and prudent that few party activists want to see her back in public life. Political drawbacks: The base won't be happy. At 60, is young enough in Senate years to get ideas.

- KATHERINE HARRIS: Ha-ha! Just seeing if you're the kind of reader who reads all the way to the bottom and doesn't just skim the bullet items. Florida columnists can still dream, though. source>>>

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