Posted on 12/05/2007 9:05:34 PM PST by Galactic Overlord-In-Chief
US Senator Mel Martinez (R) may draw an unexpected challenge for re-nomination when his seat comes up in 2010, possibly from ambitious State House Speaker Marco Rubio (R). Some Florida Republicans are upset with Martinez over his immigration position, others in the agricultural community are unhappy about his support for CAFTA (Central American Free Trade Agreement), and party activists grumble about his brief, hands-off RNC Chairmanship. Considered a fairly poor campaigner with weak name ID and no discernable association with any particular issue, Martinez could be vulnerable to a challenge from the right. Others who know Martinez -- who was largely strong-armed into the race by the Bush White House -- is simply not enamored with serving in the Senate and may opt to not seek a second term.
I believe Rubio is a Conservative (he’s also the first Hispanic Speaker in the modern era from FL). His replacing Martinez would insulate us from charges of being anti-Hispanic (although the claim will come, anyway), especially if we were to challenge Martinez with a non-Hispanic White man. If Rubio supported shamnesty, I’d expect he wouldn’t be considering challenging Martinez. I’m thinking that given the backlash against him and massive unpopularity, Martinez may not bother to run for a 2nd term.
2010 seems so far away now. There were so many other Floridians who wanted the nomination that year...maybe they will all try again.
I agree, with a big challenge he might not run. We do not need to lose the seat, however. Will Jeb be drafted?
Jeb blew it with his failure to challenge Bill Nelson. That was the only seat we were guaranteed to have won anywhere last year (no poll showed Jeb trailing the unpopular Nelson, only we went with the only Republican in the state even more unpopular than Nelson — KH). I don’t want to reward his failure to run and to keep the Senate tied or in GOP hands with Martinez’s seat. If Rubio wants it, let’s back him.
I hope this guy leaves tire tracks on Martinez
Mel must go, but I’d rather see Jeff Atwater run for the seat.
The best possible thing would be for Mel to step down and Rubio to succeed him quietly. The worst possible thing would be a botched primary challenge that results in a dem net gain.
Sorry but I’m afraid DJ is right. If we replace Mel with a white guy the seat is history. That’s the ugly truth.
“Will Jeb be drafted?”
I doubt it. If he wanted to run he had a prime opportunity to knock off the Bill ‘Fahrenheit’ Nelson last year.
Guess he wants to go into the limelight.
As one of my senators here in Florida I find Mel Martinez a p.o.s and I will work against his reelection.
Supporter of amnesty for illegals, Martinez is a Bush butt boy.
During the amnesty b.s. I wrote Martinez a letter stating my angst for amnesty. What I got from him in reply was a request for a donation.
Screw this turd.
Hell, Mickey Mouse would be better.
And just what was he thinking when President Bush put this sorry turd in as head of the g.o.p?
IMO, President Bush wanted amnesty.
President Bush wanted an Hispanic immigrant in the position to repeat the mantra that we’re “a nation of immigrants” as if the hoards of illegal aliens streaming across our borders are worthy of the title “immigrant.”
President Bush wanted him in the position to call people who apposed amnesty names like racist, bigot, xenophobe, etc.
President Bush used low-down, dirty Democrat tactics to try to force his amnesty agenda through and Sen. Martinez was a willing accomplice.
I’m not sure that President Bush wanted Sen. Martinez in the position for anything else.
Good thoughts and I concur.
Still Martinez is a dope.
Did I miss Bill Nelson's transformation into a minority?
Mel needed a presidential race that Bush won, Jeb Bush’s extremely popular coattails and a Clintoite opposing him to barely scrape together a win in ‘04.
the guy is a sitting duck. If he doesn’t retire and there isn’t a primary replacement, the seat is lost for ertan.
He’s done nothing to endear himself to Democrats, and Republicans are disgusted.
>> Hell, Mickey Mouse would be better. <<
Well, it’d have to be someone who lived in Flo—
Oh, right. He does, doesn’t he?
>> Did I miss Bill Nelson’s transformation into a minority? <<
Unfortunately, we have to wait for 2008 for that. *smirk*
Leni
I thought that when I voted for Martinez, I was voting for someone who thought as I do. Appears I was wrong. THAT won’t happen again ! Martinez has to go !
Agree. Jeb would have blown away the smarmy, two-faced leftist rat Nelson. I copied a photo of Nelson from the front page of the TLH Democrat giving a big "thumbs up" to Michael Moore's F-911 movie. I despise Nelson.
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