Posted on 08/04/2009 8:17:58 PM PDT by Kimmers
Orlando, Fla. - Former Notre Dame football coach Lou Holtz is mulling a run for Congress in Florida as a Republican, a GOP strategist said Tuesday.
Holtz could decide in the next several weeks whether to seek the central Florida congressional seat held by Democrat U.S. Rep. Suzanne Kosmas, said the strategist who requested anonymity because he is not authorized to talk about the matter.
The 72-year-old Holtz has never run for office. He has worked as an analyst at ESPN since retiring from his last coaching stint at the University of South Carolina at the end of the 2004 season.
Holtz is the only coach to guide six schools to a bowl game, and he led Notre Dame to its last national championship in 1988. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame last year.
A call to Holtz's home in Orlando was not returned Tuesday night.
ESPN spokesman Josh Krulewitz wouldn't go into the specifics of Holtz's contract and how a run for public office would affect his work.
"Each situation is different and it's pretty much speculative at this point what it would mean, but he tells us that he is committed to ESPN," Krulewitz said.
Republican leaders in central Florida were surprised that Holtz was considering a run for the seat since he hasn't been involved with the local party, said Lew Oliver, chairman of the Orange County Republican Executive Committee in Orlando.
"I doubt sincerely that 90 percent of the people who live in that district have heard the name before," Oliver said. "It would be different if the guy was named Bob Griese or Don Shula, or someone with Florida connections."
Three other Republicans - two state legislators and a local city commissioner - already plan to run for the GOP nomination.
(Copyright 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
No thanks.
I do not live in FL but I was thinking the same thing......
I think you’re allowed an excerpt only. Depending on the number of words, you might be ok.
I think you’re allowed an excerpt only. Depending on the number of words, you might be ok.
Thanks, I do not want to get myself or FR in trouble.....
I think it will have to be excerpted but going back to the subject..the last coach to win a National Championship at ND has my vote.
Holtz would be absolutely hilarious, outspoken, aggressive, and on the money. You guys are dreaming if you think he wouldn’t be a positive force in this otherwise gutless party.
But you guys will vote for Romney, I guess.......
Starting a political career at 72? Interesting to say the least.
Why not, we could do with fewer career politicians.
I thought he was something like 137.
I’ve listened to the guy and he gets my support as well.
Kosmas is as far left as they come. She has so far goosestepped to Pelosi's voting record, and to think she represents a fairly conservative district is hard to believe. I think she's starting to worry as her website says NOTHING about the Democrat nationalization of healthcare.
This is NOT Orange County so frankly I don't see what this OC Republican Oliver means by 90% of this district wouldn't know who Lou Holtz is. Who DOESN'T know who Lou Holz is? Frankly, before 2008 NOBODY heard of Suzanne Kosmas!
If Lou runs I will certainly volunteer to get rid of this socialist Kosmas.
Are you in District 24? If so, did you hear this?
We have a Senate seat coming open. Wish he would run for that. I know of at least 2 votes he would get: my husband’s and mine.
No- I’m in Seminole and have the reliable John Mica- but I sure do love Lou Holtz and would donate if he runs!
He may make a good leader.....he has had to deal with academic idiots for a lot of his career and they are the same as the rest of the politicians......
Why not? I’ve seen him on Fox a time or two, he seems pretty conservative.
Or, do you prefer only lawyers run for Congress?
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