Crist asks Diaz-Balart for Senate seat application

Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) has asked three Florida politicos, including Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart (R), to submit applications to temporarily fill the Senate seat of retiring Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.), the Palm Beach Post reports.

Besides Diaz-Balart, Crist also ask for applications from Jim Smith, a former secretary of state and attorney general, and former U.S. Attorney Bobby Martinez. (NOTE: This is NOT the same Bob Martinez who was once governor of Florida and has been mentioned as a possible pick.)

The inclusion of Diaz-Balart should raise some eyebrows. Crist undoubtedly wants to appoint a so-called “seat warmer” who has no interest in seeking a full Senate term. (Crist himself is running for the seat in 2010.) It would seem unlikely that Diaz-Balart, who is running for re-election to the House, would give up his seat for a two-year fixed term in the Senate.

A more likely explanation for Diaz-Balart’s inclusion in this round of vetting is that Crist wants to appeal to Florida’s Cuban-American population by appearing to consider as many Cuban-Americans as possible. (Both Diaz-Balart and Martinez are of Cuban heritage.)

Smith, meanwhile, originally ran for office as a Democrat and switched parties in 1987 to accept an appointment from then-Gov. Bob Martinez (R) to become secretary of state. Smith currently runs a lobbying firm.