Florida Republican Senator Bob Martinez has announced that he will not seek re-election in 2010. Only two Democrats have announced for the seat. Neither has ever won an election outside of legislative districts responsive to their race and religion/ethnicity, and no Democrat with a statewide profile has indicated an interest in running. Matt Damon lives with his family in Miami Beach, is a brainy committed progressive, and has name recognition and favorability levels most politicians could never dream of.
The two announced Democratic candidates are U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek and state senator Dan Gelber. There certainly are good things to say about each, but neither have demonstrated the ability to win elections in jurisdictions other than those in which their race and religion/ethnicity are important. That's not to say that neither candidate cannot transcend their electoral histories and win a statewide election, just that they haven't.
Moreover, neither is running a strong issue-oriented campaign. Check their websites and you can find photo galleries and press releases, but no issues page or coherent overview of their political and governing philosophies.
U.S. Rep. Ron Klein also is considering a run. But he's more conservative than either Meek or Gelber, also never has won an election outside of his religious/ethnic base, and is a generally uninspiring presence. No major Republican candidates have announced, but popular governor Charlie Crist is the front-runner, as Jeb Bush has declined.
I think that most everyone who reads this website feels that Matt Damon shares their general political beliefs, is generally honest and down to earth, and certainly at least as qualified for public office as were Arnold Schwarznegger and Ronald Reagan when they transitioned to government.
Would Matt Damon run if hundreds of thousands of Floridians (as well as Americans from the 49 other states) called for it? Why don't we see?