Outgoing U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez is making his way back to Orlando where he is soon expected to announce his resignation -- opening the door for Gov. Charlie Crist to appoint former Secretary of State Jim Smith to the spot through 2010.
"It's a done deal," said former House Speaker John Thrasher, an Orange Park Republican close to Martinez.
Smith had supported Tom Gallagher in the 2006 governor's race over Crist. But he's been a jack-of-all trades as a Florida public official, serving as a Democratic attorney general, a Democratic candidate for governor, and Republican secretary of state -- twice.
Crist, who is expected to appoint Smith today, and former House Speaker Marco Rubio are vying for the GOP nomination for the Senate seat.
"He'll be a caretaker," Thrasher said of Smith. "But he's got a great record of public service in this state."
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