Well, the Republican contest to replace state Sen. Victor Crist, R-Tampa, is taking shape — for 2010.

Republican Hillsborough County Commissioner Jim Norman filed the official paperwork Wednesday that allows him to start raising campaign cash for the race. He was slow on the draw though.

The day before, state Rep. Kevin Ambler, R-Lutz, submitted paperwork for the same race. He has additionally filed to run that year for the seat he currently holds in the House for a final two-year term before he is term-limited out.

"He can

file for as many as he wants," Norman said of Ambler’s dual campaign filings. "I’m running for the Senate seat. I’m not running against Kevin Ambler."

Norman said he wants to take what he’s learned at the local level to the state. He has been saying he intended to run for Crist’s seat for some date and was caught a little flat-footed by the announcement by Ambler, who has been a friend and political ally.

– Bill Varian, Times Staff Writer

Original post by Times Editor