THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA: Meek to travel state collecting U.S. Senate qualifying signatures

Apr 3, 2009

A day after revealing robust fundraising for the first three months of the year, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek sought to continue the momentum in his race for the U.S. Senate Thursday.

Meek announced he planned to officially qualify with the Division of Elections for the race to replace retiring Sen. Mel Martinez by collecting the required signatures from one percent of the 11.2 million registered voters in Florida.

Meek could have chosen to pay six percent of the annual salary of the position he’s seeking, but the Miami Democrat said in a statement that collecting signatures would allow him to better connect his campaign to voters.

“To win in 2010, this campaign will organize the grassroots in 2009 by reaching out to all Floridians from the Panhandle to the Keys,” Meek said.

Meek’s campaign said the four-term congressman would travel the length of Florida April 4-13 in search of signatures, with visits planned for Orlando, Tampa, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, Panama City, Pensacola, Key West, Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Meek is one of two Democrats to declare intention to seek the vacant Senate seat. Official registration for the race will take place April 26-30, 2010.