After Lincoln Diaz-Balart pulled the plug on his potential Senate appointment, speculation turned to the elderly Rep. Bill Young as the only other remaining choice for Crist to tap from the state's congressional delegation for the gig. Florida GOP Chair Jim Greer recently leaked that Young was under consideration, but now Crist has made it official:
Gov. Charlie Crist's press shop just issued an update confirming Crist has asked longtime Congressman Bill Young to apply for the U.S. Senate seat vacated by Mel Martinez. But Rep. Young, R-Indian Shores, said earlier today that the topic of Young filling the post did not come up during a 15-minute conversation Saturday night with Gov. Crist.
Instead, the conversation, initiated by Crist, centered on what kind of person would be good for the job, Young said. Young said he told the governor the choice would reflect on Crist as he campaigns for the seat during the 2010 election cycle.
Young, though, is striking a noncommittal tone because, he claims, he's reluctant to hang it up:
As to whether he would consider it, Young, 78, was cautious about committing.
"I don't think I'm prepared to say yes or no,'' he said. "It's purely hypothetical.''
On the other hand, he didn't sound like someone who would be ready to step aside for Crist at the end of the interim term.
"Anybody he appoints is going to have to understand that Charlie says he's going to run for a full term. That's a big issue with me,'' Young said. "Am I really ready to retire at the end of the term?"
