Sen. Mel Martinez will resign by the end of the month

By now most know that Florida Sen. Mel Martinez will be resigning, probably by the end of this month. He made the announcement at a morning staff meeting.

Martinez had announced he wasn’t seeking reelection to the Senate last December, but he had insisted that he would be serving out the remainder of his term, which expires in 2011.

Sen. Martinez has been rumored to be interested in the presidential opening at Florida State University (FSU), but has denied the speculation. The position is currently open — FSU president T.K. Wetherell announced he was stepping down earlier in the summer.

The Martinez decision adds a twist to the Florida senate race. If the election to replace Martinez were held today, Florida Governor Charlie Crist would easily win, according to all the polls. Interestingly, with this latest move, it is Crist who is responsible for appointing the Martinez successor until the term expires.

Alvaro F. Fernandez