Is 'Morning Joe' Scarborough running for the Senate?

Is Joe Scarborough, host of MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show for political junkies, planning to run for U.S. Senate from Florida next year?

Scarborough, who before his media gig was the Republican congressman from Pensacola, has been coy lately about his intentions.

"I haven't closed it off," Scarborough told the Sarasota Herald-Tribune yesterday. "I've been getting some calls from some fundraisers in Florida."

It may be that Scarborough wants to wait and see, like everyone else in Florida politics, whether popular Gov. Charlie Crist is planning to run for the seat being vacated by Sen. Mel Martinez.

But then this morning, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs teased Scarborough about his political aspirations while a guest on his show.

Gibbs: Joe, is it really going to be Sen. Scarborough?

Scarborough: I have to call my brother. Is he running? Yeah, right. Absolutely not.

Co-host Mika Brzezinski: All these people are calling him, asking him to run for Senate in Florida. The phone's ringing off the hook.

Scarborough: Absolutely not.

Gibbs: Mika, all I've got to say is "Morning Mika" has a nice ring to it.

Scarborough: There you go. So anyway. Here's my problem, Robert. I don't really think it would be good to run in 2010 with a party that is actively associating itself with the Taliban.

The last is a reference to comments made by Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Tex.), reported here by The Ticket last week, that the House GOP had to adopt the tactics -- if not the motives -- of the Taliban in waging an insurgents' war against Democratic House leaders.

-- Johanna Neuman

We accept members of all parties or no parties to register here for Twitter alerts on each new Ticket item. RSS feeds are available over here. And we're now on Kindle as well.

Photo: MSNBC

Comments

[Lynne Wilkins]

I hope he DOES run for the Senate and I hope he wins, so we don't have to watch his rude, arrogant behavior on the morning news each day. His overbearing insulting behavior towards his guests and the women in particular is ridiculous. Why in the world does he think that his opinion is so important that he won't let other people speak? He won't allow a civil discourse. He will not let anyone with an opposing opinion speak or finish their sentences.

[Hope]

Good morning Joe!

I only watch Morning Joe when you are on. You are great with your guest co-hosts; you are very smart ; you have a sense of humor; and great when talking about politics. You know your stuff.

Please stay with the show...You make it so entertaining and it is nice to hear some one on MSNBC that is not a liberal nut!!! My friends and I just can't watch MSNBC in the evenings because of Chris, Keith and Rachel....I am registered an Independent ....

Best Regards,

Hope