Menendez singles out Meek

Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) Chairman Bob Menendez singles out a couple of Democratic Senate candidates facing primary opposition in this MSNBC clip from Monday.

It’s uninteresting that Menendez singles out Kentucky Attorney General Jack Conway (D) – there’s plenty of evidence that that national party people are behind him rather than Lt. Gov. Dan Mongiardo (D) – but it’s interesting that Menendez notes Rep. Kendrick Meek (D) in Florida.

Meek wasn’t initially seen as a huge recruit for Democrats, but the momentum has steadily built for his campaign, including a big fundraising total in the first quarter.

Though he faces state Sen. Dan Gelber and possibly Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio in the primary, he’s now being mentioned alongside big-name recruits like Missouri Secretary of State Robin Carnahan, Rep. Paul Hodes (D-N.H.) and Conway.

It will be interesting to see what tack the committee takes with Meek once Florida Gov. Charlie Crist (R) gets in the race, which is expected as early as next week. Do they get behind Meek early and hope he can build enough steam pull an upset in the general election?

-Aaron Blake