WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- Rep. Dave Weldon, R-Fla., whose congressional district includes Cape Canaveral, says he will not seek Democrat Bob Graham's U.S. Senate seat.
Weldon's announcement, made by e-mail to supporters, comes on the heels of Graham's announcement ending his bid for the Democrat's 2004 presidential nomination.
In the e-mail, Weldon cited his responsibilities as a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee as one reason he will seek re-election to the House seat he has held since 1994.
Weldon also said his "duties as a dad have proven to be hard to set aside" while making the decision whether to seek the Senate nomination.
Republicans still in the race include state Sen. Danny Webster House Speaker Johnnie Byrd and former Congressman Bill McCollum, who lost his bid for the Senate in 2000 to Bill Nelson, D-Fla.
