Uh Oh Martinez may run in Florida, this is bad

[ringmastery]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/florida/sfl-fmel13nov13,0,7707035.story?coll=sfla-news-florida

TALLAHASSEE · Apparently spurred on by the White House, U.S. Housing Secretary Mel Martinez is seriously considering jumping into Florida's U.S. Senate race.

Martinez's friends and political allies said Wednesday that the former Orange County chairman plans to decide within days whether to become the fifth Republican in the race looking to succeed Democrat Bob Graham.

"He's clearly thinking very strongly about it," said former state House Speaker John Thrasher of Orange Park, who has known Martinez since both attended Florida State University Law School. "Once Graham got out of the race, I think it was only natural that people started seeing the field as not yet closed out."

[LuCifer]

1. OOH NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!

NOT THAT PIECE OF TURD. NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Waaaaaait, I thought you ment BOB Martinez...

[La_Serpiente]

2. We haven't lost hope yet

Although Martinez is a Cuban American Republican, the mayor of Miami, Alex Penelas is a Cuban American Democrat, so don't expect Martinez to get the Cuban vote. In fact, they would probably be split and all the retired seniors would go for Penelas and the Jewish voters as well. In fact, he even went against the Elian Gonzalez thing, so it's not like he carries a lot of baggage that the Cuban Americans are angry with.

Just my 2 cents.

[ringmastery]

4. there's no way that Penelas

will get the nomination. Deutsch and him are in a pissing contest. I think Castor will get it.

If he runs, this seat will be hard to keep. Martinez will definitely cut into the south florida base and he'll clean house in Orange County where he is originally from.

I don't like him running. The other republican nut jobs would have been much easier to beat.

[fishnfla]

6. Martinez

is a smart pick. The only area of Fl, besides the southeast that is somewhat Democratic is the I-4 corridor. Martinez would walk away with that area. He would capture 75% of the Cuban vote, last I heard, they vote GOP. The soutwest, panhandle and Jacksonville=all GOP territory. With his DC connections, he tosses a bone to the space industry, big sugar and retirees. His immigrant, by the bootstraps life story is the American dream. No skeletons

We could be looking at an entrenched GOP Senator here.


on edit: of course s. florida is solid dem, thanks god

[fishnfla]

3. Whew, at least he's not K.Harris!

The other GOPers are all hard-core right wingers. This guy is more moderate.
Its a lock for the GOP anyway.

[Chef]

5. Mel?

I saw him speak two weeks ago (the first time he's spoken outside of a republican fundraiser I think). Not a very good speaker I'm afraid. Poor Florida. I feel for thee.

[soup]

7. 3 days ago

Mel Martinez, Bush's secretary of housing and urban development, said he would not run for the Senate in Florida, where Sen. Bob Graham, a Democrat, is retiring; Martinez prefers to keep his options open for an eventual gubernatorial race.
http://www.buffalonews.com/editorial/20031110/1018655.asp

today
The former Orange County government leader, after previously fending off White House urgings to jump into the race, has told fellow Republicans he likely will announce soon that he is running.

"He's calling people all over Florida and telling them he is entering the Senate race at the behest of the White House," J.M. "Mac" Stipanovich, a prominent Tallahassee lobbyist and Republican strategist, said Wednesday.
>snip<
Former Secretary of State Jim Smith, for example, said he would welcome Martinez in the race. He said Republicans do not have a candidate yet who could beat former Education Commissioner Betty Castor of Tampa, whom he expects to win the Democratic nomination.
http://www.sptimes.com/2003/11/13/State/HUD_chief_may_jump_in.shtml

Sounds like he doesn't really want the job, but Harris has the Republicans scrambling for somebody...? anybody...? Bueller...? Bueller...? they can rain money and blessings down onto in this race.


note- I thought it was Bob Martinez when I first read it, too. Mel Martinez? made me wonder- um, who dat?

[leetrisck]

8. bush wanted him to run from the time he

named him at HUD. He's a dud at HUD - HUD used to complain about Cuomo and Martinez is worse than they ever could have imagined.