GOP More Likely To Hold Onto Weldon Seat

Florida Republicans got a dose of good news over the last week in their bid to hold onto retiring Rep. Dave Weldon’s (R-Fla.) Space Coast Congressional seat.

Last Friday, the Democrats’ favored nominee, former Brevard County Commissioner Nancy Higgs, abruptly decided not to run in the open-seat race because of “personal and family considerations.”

She initially announced her intention to run for the seat within hours of Weldon’s retirement announcement, and was viewed as a strong Democratic recruit.

Physician Steve Blythe is now currently the only Democratic running, but isn’t viewed as a top candidate who is likely to prevail in a district that gave President Bush 57 percent of the vote in 2004.

That news follows the state Republican party’s coalescence around state senator Bill Posey, who was endorsed by state GOP party chairman Jim Greer last week. Greer’s endorsement has also allowed the National Republican Congressional Committee to officially support Posey before he wins the nomination.

The endorsement means that Posey, who has served in the Florida state legislature since 1992, is unlikely to face serious Republican opposition in the August 26 primary. Several other state legislators in the district had been eyeing the seat, but they all have endorsed Posey’s bid.