Former football player Tim Tebow, who rose to national acclaim with high-profile spots on the New York Jets and Denver Broncos – made higher because of his public displays of Christianity on the field – may become the next congressman from Florida, if some in the Republican Party get their way.
A surprise announced retirement of Rep. Andrew Crenshaw, 71, who hails from Jacksonville, Florida, the very same district where Tebow lives, has cleared the way for the ex-NFLer to run. And some in the GOP are ready to put the campaign in gear.
"We could hit the ground running, immediately," said one Republican source who said several in the party are trying to entice him to run, the Washington Examiner reported.
The newspaper also reported the source said the GOP is quietly trying to arrange a team to launch a campaign in time for the August 30 primary.
Tebow, as WND previously reported, has expressed interest in entering politics, telling a Fox News audience in late March that he believed "if there's a chance you can make a difference someday in something, then that would be intriguing."
And the idea is gathering steam.
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"Just because your quarterback career in the NFL doesn't pan out, it doesn't mean you can't have a successful career in politics," said Brian Walsh, a GOP strategist, in the Washington Examiner. "So if this is something he's interested in pursuing, Tebow would certainly be a strong contender for this seat with his high name ID and reputation for hard work and strong values."
Red Alert Politics outright called for Tebow to run for the seat, in a widely read opinion piece.
"If there is any chance Tebow could run, Republicans and the NRCC should actively recruit him and welcome him into the party," the news site said. "While some might think Tebow could be 'the next Rick Santorum,' focusing mostly on social issues, Tebow would bring much more than that. He would bring a focus on fighting for the less fortunate and using creative solutions to eradicate poverty. He would also bring millennial appeal."