During her bid to become Florida attorney general, Pam Bondi downplayed talk about her future political ambitions and ripped into her opponents -- Jeff Kottkamp and Holly Benson in the Republican primary and Democrat Dan Gelber in the general election -- as career politicians.
But with Florida remaining one of the most crucial states in national politics, as a member of the state Cabinet, Bondi cannot escape politics even if she wants to, and this week she threw her weight around in two of the most interesting Republican primaries in the state, even as her star continues to rise at the national level.
Bondi is backing former state Senate President Tom Lees bid to return to the Florida Senate and she endorsed him over Rep. Rachel Burgin, R-Tampa, who is also running in the primary.
During his years of elected service to Florida, Tom Lee has proven his ability to champion and effectively accomplish policy objectives essential to the success of our state with great character, honesty and integrity, Bondi said in a statement released by the Lee team on Thursday. It is critical that the Florida Senate elect strong and conservative leaders like Tom Lee to help ensure that our state continues to create jobs, offer opportunities and provide safety for all Floridians. I am pleased to offer my endorsement and support to not only a respected and trusted conservative leader and successful businessman, but also my longtime family friend, Tom Lee.
Bondi also waded into a Republican primary this week. On Wednesday, Bondi announced that she was backing U.S. Rep. Connie Mack over his rivals running in the Republican primary to take on U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., in November.
The attorney general was also active in the battle for the Republican presidential nomination. Bondi joined other state attorneys general in helping host a Republican presidential debate on Mike Huckabees show on Fox News back in December. She endorsed Mitt Romney -- who went on to a big win in the Florida primary -- in early January and cut a radio ad for his campaign.
With Bondi taking up where former Attorney General Bill McCollum left off in leading a constitutional challenge to the federal health-care law that President Barack Obama signed back in 2010, she should get a bit more national exposure in the coming weeks as the Supreme Court of the United States is expected to rule in the case.
Bondis had the occasional off-moment -- her trip to the Caymans at the end of May and the brouhaha over whether she intended to wed there come to mind -- but, for the most part, she has been soaring high. While insiders in Tallahassee are not buzzing about her political future as loudly as they do for Cabinet colleagues CFO Jeff Atwater and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam, Bondi cannot be ruled out for higher office -- and it may not be in Tallahassee. Bill Clinton turned to a high-profile Florida prosecutor in Janet Reno when he looked for an attorney general. Bondi could well end up following in Renos footsteps if Romney is elected in November.
Expect to see a good deal of Bondi on the national stage this month as the Supreme Court ponders the fate of the health-care law. How Bondi does in the national limelight could determine her future -- and impact the Sunshine States politics.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
