Bob Smith, Who Twice Ran for Senate in Florida, Won't Make Political Comeback in NH

Former U.S. Sen. Bob Smith, R-N.H., told the New Hampshire Union Leader on Wednesday that he will not run again for the Senate. Smith, who made two bids for the Senate in Florida, had thrown his name out as a possible candidate to challenge U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., in 2014.

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 wasnt 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.

After leaving the Senate, Smith moved to Sarasota where he sold real estate and he 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.

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.