FL-Sen: NRSC chair Cornyn trying to recruit Crist

With Jeb Bush having opted against running for the U.S. Senate, NRSC chairman John Cornyn turns to the one other Florida politician who could conceivably clear the field and start with a significant advantage over any Democrat - Bush's successor as Governor of Florida, Charlie Crist.

National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) on Wednesday said efforts are ongoing to persuade Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) to run for his state’s open Senate seat.

“We’re going to continue to visit. It’s very early in the game, but recruitment is important and the ability to be competitive on the financial front is very important too. We’re working on both of those fronts,” Cornyn told The Hill.

Few Florida politicians can match Crist’s popularity and fundraising potential. The governor, a centrist who would be up for reelection in 2010,  has denied any interest in running for the seat being vacated by Sen. Mel Martinez (R), but Cornyn, who has spoken to the governor about the race, suggested Crist may be open to persuasion.

A Crist candidacy would be a dream come true for the Republicans, although the Senate race ought to be a tough sell for Crist. He's virtually guaranteed reelection as Governor if he runs, and as the popular Governor of Florida is already poised for a Presidential run in 2012. This being the case, Crist may not have much to gain from an immediate Senate run.

In fact, seeking another promotion after just one term as Governor, and following a Senate election with a subsequent run for President, probably wouldn't look too good for Crist. He'd essentially be spending the entirety of the next four years campaigning, rather than looking after the state's affairs. The appearance of being a serial campaigner might very well hurt him in a presidential primary. Granted, he'll have to run for reelection as Governor in 2010, but it's a job he already holds; Senate followed by President would raise the question of whether Crist is content with any job. Having run for statewide office nearly every cycle since 1998 - for U.S. Senate, education commissioner, attorney general and finally Governor, it might be best for Crist's public image to stay put for once and focus on being Governor.

So while it's easy to see why the Republicans would want Crist to run, it's tougher to see what Crist, an incumbent Governor with presidential ambitions would get out of it other than winning some allies in the Senate caucus for a possible Presidential bid.

He claims not to be interested in the Senate seat, which is understandable, but one never knows. Cornyn is aiming high; if his recruitment skills are better than his predecessors John Ensign and Elizabeth Dole, perhaps he can succeed in pulling Crist in against all odds.