Florida Chief Financial Officer Alex Sink (D) announced Friday morning that she will not seek the Senate seat held by retiring Sen. Mel Martinez (R) in 2010. In a statement released through the Florida Democratic Party Sink said, “I believe my skills and abilities are of greatest use here in Florida,” she said. “I will run for re-election as chief financial officer to continue being a fiscal watchdog on behalf of the people of Florida.” The popular Sink had been viewed as the top potential candidate on the Democratic side, and with her decision to pass the primary is now expected to be a wide-open contest. Earlier this week, Rep. Kendrick Meek (D) announced that he would seek the Senate seat and other Members, including Reps. Allen Boyd (D) and Ron Klein (D), continue to ponder a run. Republicans, who lost a top potential candidate when former Gov. Jeb Bush (R) decided not to run, were quick to describe Sink’s decision as a setback for Democrats. “This was always going to be a competitive election, but Alex Sink’s decision to forgo the Senate race is clearly a big setback for state and national Democrats who have made this seat one of their top targets in 2010,” National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Brian Walsh said.