Joe Scarborough: GOP Asked Me To Run For Senate In Florida

Joe Scarborough told The Hill on Friday that Republican leaders in the Senate asked him to run against Florida Democrat Bill Nelson in the 2012 elections.

Scarborough's disclosure came after Sen. John Cornyn, who is running the Republican election effort for the chamber in 2012, issued a denial for a previous story in the Hill which reported that he was trying to court Scarborough to run.

Cornyn was quoted as saying that he had discussed a Senate bid with Scarborough in the past, and that he still considers the "Morning Joe" host to be a viable candidate.

"I'd be delighted to talk to him a third time," Cornyn said.

But on Friday, Cornyn denied the veracity of the story. "Story is wrong," Cornyn tweeted. The National Republican Senatorial Committee also issued a statement saying that, while Cornyn had talked with Scarborough about running for a seat in New York in 2010, the two had not discussed a Florida bid.

Scarborough, though, confirmed the report. "John suggested last month that I consider running for the Senate against Bill Nelson," he said. "His intent was clear and unambiguous and echoed his quotes in The Hill. However, I love the job I have and have no intention of running for the Senate."

This is not the first time a potential political comeback for Scarborough--who was a Congressman from Florida in the 1990s--has been talked about. In November, he denied rumors that he was mulling a presidential run with New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. And in 2009, Scarborough admitted that people had been asking him to run in 2010, telling a Florida paper that he hadn't "closed off" the possibility.

Comments

[Rivercitydan]

09:46 AM on 04/02/2011

After seeing what the GOP stands for and how many hypocritical statements they make, as well as how much contempt they have for the working class, I could understand why they would ask Joe Scarborough to run for senate. He'd be perfect.

[kkdkdkdkdk]

09:00 PM on 03/14/2011

Joe you have far more influence where you are then you would have as a Senator. Stay where you are.

[PHILVflorida]

09:36 PM on 03/14/2011

Correct and he can't do any damage where he is now.

[Rivercitydan]

09:47 AM on 04/02/2011

Good reply Phil.

[Susan DeVilder]

05:43 PM on 03/14/2011

Wow Joe, that would be great. But finding people willing to work for you as aids might prove difficult.

[kkdkdkdkdk]

09:00 PM on 03/14/2011

That's disgusting!!!

[ydrittmann]

11:12 PM on 03/14/2011

and basically unresolved.

[CarryOn]

05:30 PM on 03/14/2011

Oh, Glenn that message was left for YOU while you were on vacation. ...Hi, Glenn, God here... Hey, you know that stuff you're doing? Not really working out real well. Maybe you should stop doing some of it.' I'm just saying."

[Patchdee]

09:34 PM on 03/14/2011

He should have Sarah Palin on his show. They could commiserate at how they have been dissed by Roger and the FoxLameStreamMedia.

[MsBJns]

03:32 PM on 03/14/2011

Yeah GOPers, get him to run. The death of one of his aides in his office has yet to be fully explored.

[annlisa]

04:21 PM on 03/14/2011

And for this reason, it's certain he will not run for Senate or any other office.

[kkdkdkdkdk]

09:01 PM on 03/14/2011

And just exactly what hasn't been explained Jack Wagon?

[beebertoy]

03:26 PM on 03/14/2011

who would want to run for office instead of having a cushy media job, making tons of money, balling with impunity, working short hours, getting tons of vacations etc...

[zest]

01:03 PM on 03/14/2011

If he ran he'd have some splanin' that he is not willing to do.

[TBrennan]

12:34 PM on 03/14/2011

I do not always agree with Joe but I respect his intellectual honesty. Which is more than I can say for the vast majority of the GOP, and I'm not even talking about the mindless baggers. He argues in a thoughtful and respectful manner. It would be nice, for a change, to have some respect for a political opponent.

[1murillo]

06:47 AM on 03/14/2011

To whatever degree he's been asked to run, he's an example of the GOP's greatest problem coming to 2012. RNC Wisconsinite chairman Priebus has so far shown that he's not up for the job. He's wasted critical time since being elected by not working 24/7 to recruit candidates for the many races that will occur.
Merely because there will be a lot of Democratic seats opening up for election doesn't mean that Republicans have a quality candidate to run against the incumbents. Every day that passes is a day better for the incumbent holding the seat, especially if there are tea party group challenges in Maine, Indiana, Utah and for other Republican held offices.

[jerryfromcalifornia]

03:19 AM on 03/14/2011

Joe, you would have lost, not radical enough.

[NoNothing]

02:24 AM on 03/14/2011

Maybe he can join the Democrats in Wisconsin amd run FROM the Senate.

[Cowboylove]

12:51 AM on 03/14/2011

This may be flattering to Joe Scarborough until you look at who they are fielding for their top job. Looks as if they are scarping the very bottom of the barrel.

[Mona HB]

11:19 PM on 03/13/2011

I think Mika is great. She's a good balance for Joe S and he needs it. His take on what is necessary as the country is coming out a terrible recession is not a very good one in my opinion. You can't just cut, cut, cut without looking at the revenue side of the equation. And the Bush tax cuts do not create jobs and must be eliminated.

[bebrave2]

10:26 PM on 03/13/2011

In the true vein of "Scarborough Country".. he was for the idea before he was against it.

The only problem I have with Joe leaving the show is Mika might be in charge and without him...she's too... bombastic. Boooyyyyyyzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!

[douglasmckenzie525]

08:07 PM on 03/13/2011

Not surprising. Joe (R) represented the 1st Florida congressional district from Jan 4, 1994 (1st vote) to Sep 5, 2001 (last vote). He missed 480 (12%) out of 4075 roll call votes. He also voted with the republicans 88% of the time. Only 4 of the bills he sponsored ever came out of committee. He never brought home any legislation ior representation for anyone but his financial backers. HE WAS JUST A MEDIOCRE REPRESENTATIVE, AND A YES MAN. Whose interests would he serve?

[GeeuaReux2]

12:41 AM on 03/14/2011

wow....
I am not surprised.
I was surprised to see him on MSNBC, always had suspicions, but not after the start of the Friday show.

[kkdkdkdkdk]

09:04 PM on 03/14/2011

What have you done lately Dougy?