Florida might have its share of Republican presidential candidates but one former presidential candidate who ran twice in the Sunshine State is behind U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
Former U.S. Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H., who ran twice for the U.S. Senate in Florida, was named as a co-chair of Cruz’s veterans outreach team on Wednesday.
Smith joins U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine, R-Okla., and Texas state Sen. Brian Birdwell as co-chairs of “Vets for Ted” while Bill Connor will be national director. Cruz has also named Smith, a Navy veteran, as part of his team in New Hampshire, home of the first presidential primary.
“I am humbled and proud to have Bob, Jim, Brian and Bill leading the ‘Vets for Ted’ military coalition,” Cruz said on Wednesday. “Each of these men has bravely served our country and put their lives on the line to defend the liberties we enjoy today. Their support is an honor. I am committed to ensuring our military forces are provided the resources they need to protect our homeland and promote America's interests across the globe -- and to making sure we fulfill our obligations to our veterans and their families when they return home.”
First elected to the Senate in 1990 after six years in the U.S. House, Smith was one of the leading conservatives there for a decade. He ran for the Republican presidential nomination in the 2000 election cycle but pulled out in the summer of 1999 to run as an independent, arguing the GOP wasn’t conservative enough. Smith soon shifted back over to the Republicans and pulled the plug on his presidential bid. In 2002, he lost the Republican primary to John Sununu. Smith endorsed Democratic presidential nominee John Kerry over George W. Bush in the 2004 presidential election. Smith returned back to the GOP fold in the next presidential cycle, backing then-U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., in the primaries.
After leaving the Senate, Smith moved to Sarasota where he sold real estate and became active in Florida politics. Smith made a bid for the open Senate seat in Florida in 2004 but pulled out in April of that year, citing an inability to raise money. In 2010, Smith ran for the Republican nomination for an open Senate seat in Florida again but pulled out in March of that year noting frustrations with fundraising. Last year, Smith ran for the Republican nomination to challenge U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., but lost in the Republican primary to former U.S. Sen. Scott Brown, R-Mass.
During his time in the Senate, Smith worked on a number of key issues for Florida including protecting the Everglades and keeping Elian Gonzalez in the U.S. instead of Cuba.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
