Alex Sink, a long-time banking executive and one of two Florida Democrats to win statewide elected office this decade, became the first candidate on Wednesday to announce a campaign to replace Republican Gov. Charlie Crist.

“I’m going to be a problem-solver,” said Sink, the state’s elected CFO. “That’s what I’ve always been. That’s the approach I bring.”

Sink, if elected, would be the first female governor in Florida.

Sink, 60, is expected to have a smooth path to her party’s nomination.

She raised $1.2 million during the first three months of the year — more than any other Florida politician. And her announcement, which came in a YouTube video e-mailed to reporters, was immediately greeted with endorsements from party leaders, including former Democratic Gov. Bob Graham and Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman.

Possible Republican candidates to replace Crist, who announced Tuesday he would run for U.S. Senate in 2010, include Attorney General Bill McCollum and Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson. Both said Wednesday that they would make their decisions next week.

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Several top GOP strategists have already aligned behind McCollum, whose name is well-known among voters after running in three statewide elections and after serving 20 years in Congress, where he helped lead the impeachment of President Clinton.

But Sink supporters say she has won as many statewide elections as McCollum: one. Both were elected to their state Cabinet offices in 2006.

The only other Democrat to win a statewide office this decade was U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson.

“It’s absolutely true that McCollum is better known,” Sink’s pollster David Beattie said. “Despite that, all the polls say it’s a dead-heat.”

Democratic strategist Robin Rorapaugh said low name ID for Sink means she can create her own image as she starts advertising across the state.

“Bill McCollum has already branded himself as extraordinarily conservative and possibly out-of-step with voters,” said Rorapaugh, who managed the gubernatorial primary campaign for Sink’s husband, Bill McBride, in 2002. McBride beat the last women to try run for governor, Janet Reno, before losing to Republican Jeb Bush in the general election.

In her announcement, Sink, a former Bank of America president, cast herself as a political outsider with “nearly three decades in business creating jobs and economic opportunity.”

“During my short time in state government, a couple things have become crystal clear,” Sink said. “Tallahassee’s tired old ways of doing business just aren’t enough to answer the urgent new challenges we face.”

But her relative unknown status among voters will also leave room for Republicans to attempt to create an image for Sink. They started Tuesday by pointing out that the state’s historic economic crisis has come during her two years in office.

“She’s got nothing to brag about,” said GOP strategist Mac Stipanovich. “She has a lot to answer for.”

Related news:
*Former Gov. Bob Graham and Florida Democratic Party Chairwoman Karen Thurman endorse Sink.

*Republican Party of Florida Chairman Jim Greer promises to show us the real Sink.

*Other notable women in Florida politics.

*Key phrase in governor’s race: “problem solver”

*First quarter campaign finance numbers.

Sink’s full statement & video:

“Floridians from Pensacola over to Jacksonville and all the way down to Key West are facing enormous challenges. Each and every day, the global financial crisis tests our families, our economy and our resolve.

In unique and challenging times like these, our state needs a new and different kind of leadership.

Thousands of Floridians have told me they need leaders committed to protecting the middle class, strengthening our economy and giving our families a fighting chance. As a businesswoman and working mom, I couldn’t agree more.

Before the people of Florida elected me their CFO, I spent nearly three decades in business – creating jobs and economic opportunity in communities all across our state.

During my short time in state government, a couple of things have become crystal clear: Tallahassee’s tired old ways of doing business just aren’t enough to answer the urgent new challenges we face. And a state government influenced by narrow special interests cannot put the best interests of everyday Floridians first.

Today, I’m announcing I will be a candidate for Governor of Florida in the November 2010 election, and put my business experience and know-how to work restoring our economy.

And, as Florida’s CFO, I’ll continue using my business experience to cut wasteful spending, crack down on financial fraud and reform state contracts.

For too long, we’ve had to tolerate a state government that puts playing politics ahead of helping families. Together, we can change all that, and give our state a fresh start.”

Tags: Alex Sink

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