Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has decided against running for the Senate. Bush had indicated his interest in the seat after incumbent Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) announced he would not seek re-election in 2010.

From a McClatchy Newspapers article, detailing Bush's decision, which he announced in e-mails to supporters today:

His e-mail says: "While I will always have more than fond memories of my years in public office and was humbled by the outpouring of support I received over the last few weeks, now is not my time to be running for office. To sum it up, in the words of Dr. Stephen Covey, I have decided to put First Things First. I will continue to stay involved in the advocacy of a vibrant, growing Republican Party and with it, 21st Century conservative solutions to the challenges we face."

You can read Bush's full statement here.

The Republican Party of Florida has released a statement that reassures constituents that all is not lost with this decision. From Florida GOP chair Jim Greer:

"While we are disappointed in former Governor Bush's decision not to seek this U.S. Senate seat, Florida Republicans can rest assured that we have a number of outstanding potential candidates. Under the leadership of Republicans like Senator Mel Martinez, former Governor Bush, and Governor Charlie Crist, the Republican Party of Florida has created a formidable cadre of qualified candidates for higher office, and we look forward to seeing their ideas for the future -- including lowering taxes on families and businesses and reigning in government spending -- in action during a spirited campaign."