SEC Network host and television-radio personality Paul Finebaum is considering running for U.S. Senate in Alabama as a Republican.

In an interview with OutKick’s Clay Travis, the former columnist said the Charlie Kirk assassination greatly impacted him and made him put things into perspective.

“I spent four hours numb talking about things that didn’t matter to me. And it kept building throughout that weekend,” Finebaum said in the interview.

“I felt very empty doing what I was doing that day,” he continued.

Finebaum called Kirk’s murder an “awakening” for him.

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OutKick shared further details:

Then came a couple of conversations that piqued Finebaum’s interest in something he had never previously considered.

“One or two people in Washington had reached out to me about whether I would be interested in politics, something I never thought about before. Something I didn’t really think possible,” he said. “I gave some thought to it as the [after Kirk’s murder] weekend unfolded and got a little bit more interested.”

As far as his potential path to public office, Travis noted that Tommy Tuberville, one of Alabama’s senators, is running for governor of the state. So, his seat is likely to be open for someone to take. Finebaum was reluctant, at first, to even consider the possibility because former Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl had expressed interest in the seat.

But once Pearl said that wasn’t his plan, Finebaum changed his perspective.

“I was… hesitant at first because I was very aware of Bruce’s interest and [I’m a] huge fan of Bruce… I didn’t take it too seriously,” Finebaum said. “I ended up talking to someone… who made it clear that there was a desire for me to be involved. And this person… was compelling and compassionate in the approach to me, and I started thinking about this.”

“Paul Finebaum is seriously considering entering the Alabama senate race. For the first time he publicly says he is a @realDonaldTrump supporter and voter. We sat down for a long form chat this weekend in Athens,” Travis said.

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More from The Hill:

While Finebaum and his wife have lived in North Carolina for more than a decade, he told OutKick he’d be eager to move back to Alabama — “the place I’ve felt most welcome,” he said — and would jump into the race if requested by President Trump.

“Impossible to tell him no. There’s no way I could. I would tell him yes,” Finebaum said.

Finebaum is one of several Alabama sports legends who have been linked to the Senate seat.

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Former Auburn basketball coach Bruce Pearl was also considering running for the GOP Senate nomination in Alabama before opting against it.

A recent poll of Yellowhammer State voters also sought to gauge interest in a potential Senate run from former NFL quarterback A. J. McCarron, who is best known for leading Alabama to consecutive college football national championships in 2011 and 2012.

 

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