Former Miami mayor challenges Meek for Senate nod

Former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre officially launched his upstart bid for the U.S. Senate Wednesday, banking on political experience and potential appeal in the fast-growing Hispanic community to overtake rivals with multimillion-dollar head starts.

The city's longest-serving and first Hispanic mayor was known for his vision of downtown Miami as an international business hub with a soaring skyline. Chaotic City Hall politics, the Mariel boatlift and the Liberty City riots rocked his 12-year stint.

"I have led during moments of turmoil before and I am ready to be the strong voice for Florida in Washington to pull us out of the crisis that we are living right now,'' reads a written statement from Ferre, who also served as a county commissioner, city commissioner and state lawmaker.

The 74-year-old Democrat lost his last three bids for county mayor, and it's unclear how he will raise the resources to run a statewide campaign. The leading Democratic candidate for the Senate seat, U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek of Miami, started campaigning in January and had raised $2.7 million as of June 30.

"This primary is not locked up,'' said Ferre's new communications consultant, Freddy Balsera, who served as fundraiser and Hispanic advisor to Barack Obama's presidential campaign. ``It's important to have a competitive process so that the strongest Democrat will be the nominee.''

The major Republican contenders for Florida's open Senate seat in 2010 are Gov. Charlie Crist and former House Speaker Marco Rubio of Miami.