Kendrick Meek, Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, on Monday made history by submitting more than 100,000 signatures to qualify on the statewide ballot by petition.
After campaigning for a year and a half, Meek, a Miami Congressman, collected 112,476 signatures from one percent of the state’s electorate, the News Service of Florida reports. Although all the signatures must be verified as being registered voters, Meek is confident that he will prevail. Should this be the case, Meek will be the first candidate ever to qualify statewide by petition in Florida’s history.
On Monday, Meek submitted petitions in Miami, while other campaign officials did so in Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa and Tallahassee, said the News Service of Florida.
Meek’s campaign attributes his strong work ethic and perseverance as central to getting himself on the ballot. This contrasts sharply with Governor Charlie Crist also running for the U.S. Senate, but who must first win the GOP nomination and who many view as having too many light working days.
While Meek would more than likely end up being the Democratic nominee, many consider his bid for the U.S. Senate still a long shot.
