State: McCollum building Senate campaign

McCollum building Senate campaign

The former U.S. House member faces an uphill race, but he is determined to claim the seat held by Sen. Bob Graham.

By ADAM C. SMITH, Times Political Editor

Bill McCollum wants another shot at the U.S. Senate.

The former Orlando area Republican congressman who lost his Senate race to Democrat Bill Nelson two years ago is ramping up a campaign for Bob Graham's seat. Graham is expected to run for president, but McCollum said he's running no matter what.

"I plan to be Florida's next United States senator. I'm in this race regardless," said McCollum, now a Washington lawyer.

Though the election is nearly two years away, McCollum already has catching up to do. Republican U.S. Rep. Mark Foley of West Palm Beach has nearly $2-million in a campaign account and has been laying the groundwork for a Senate run for more than a year. Foley also has suggested he would likely run even if Graham is in the race.

With Foley aggressively raising his profile, McCollum is eager to do the same. On Thursday he took the unusual step of releasing a fundraising letter he's preparing to send to 15,000 former donors.

"No other potential candidate has my 20-year record of cutting taxes, holding the line on spending and supporting our men and women in the military. . . . Our campaign begins today. I need your help now," the letter states.

Best known for his leadership role trying to impeach President Clinton, McCollum in 2000 initially faced a GOP primary challenge from then-Education Commissioner Tom Gallagher. Gallagher was persuaded to drop out and Nelson wound up beating McCollum by nearly 5 percentage points, giving Democrats both of Florida's U.S. Senate seats.

State Republican finance chairman Al Austin acknowledged that some Republicans think McCollum already had his chance.

"After the election there were a lot of people who were disgruntled, feeling that we lost the seat and that had Gallagher run we would have won it," said Austin.

McCollum, though, said he is getting widespread encouragement to run. Most of Florida's statewide officeholders lost their first statewide campaigns, he noted, describing Foley as "left of center" and himself as "right of center."

Foley could not be reached for comment Thursday.

Also seen as a Republican prospect for Graham's seat is state House Speaker Johnnie Byrd of Plant City. Potential Democrats include U.S. Reps. Peter Deutsch of Fort Lauderdale and Alcee Hastings of Miramar, and Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas.