UPDATED: Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) to resign, report says

CNN is reporting that Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) will resign.

We’ll update with confirmation when it becomes available.

UPDATE: The Miami Herald is reporting this as well.

This sets up a bizarre situation for the 2010 election. Martinez had already announced that he wouldn’t seek another term, setting up a primary between Gov. Charlie Crist (R) and State House Speaker Marco Rubio (R).

Now, if Martinez steps down, Crist will have the authority to appoint someone to feill Martinez’s seat until the next election. Crist could theoretically appoint himself, then run in 2010 as an incumbent.

This is highly unlikely, I’d imagine. A more likely scenario is that Crist will appoint a lame duck who announced from the start that he won’t run again in 2010, thus neutralizing any effect Martinez’s resignation might have on the campaign.