Posted on 03/13/2004 9:46:39 PM PST by JohnnyZ
Mel Martinez is riding a wave of grassroots support. “It’s going great,” said the candidate – one of 18 people, nine of them Republicans – already in the running for the U.S. Senate seat being given up this year by Democrat Bob Graham.
Though it’s early in the game, and Martinez is in the middle of a crowd of high rollers from both sides of the aisle, polls put him high on the list.
A poll released by the St. Petersburg Times and Miami Herald put Martinez even with former Rep. Bill McCollum of Longwood, another GOP candidate for Graham’s seat.
On the campaign trail, though, Martinez seems more content to talk about who he is and what he’ll do than about bashing fellow candidates.
He said he is being well received by Floridians as he moves across the state to seek support.
Former secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Martinez resigned from that seat in December to put his energy into campaigning.
Describing himself as a “compassionate conservative,” Martinez said he wants to show voters “my values, my strong family values, my knowledge and experience.”
Those last two counts made a believer out of Boca Raton Mayor Steven Abrams, who has already notched his support for Martinez’ bid for the Senate seat. “I am supporting him, I think he is good for cities,” said Abrams. “This is based on his background as HUD secretary.”
Abrams got to know Martinez when he was in that federal post when the mayor sought assistance from Uncle Sam for Boca’s $6.2 million Pearl City master plan. The mayor said he will also be attending a fund-raiser for Martinez shortly.
Martinez attributes his gains to six weeks of grassroots campaigning across the state.
“The enthusiasm and positive response I’ve received from voters has been encouraging,” he said. “We have come a long way in a short time, but we have a long road to victory.”
He said he plans to visit all 67 of Florida’s counties to convey his “conservative principles to voters from all walks of life.” “Clearly,” he said, “all the hard work is paying off and my positive message is resonating.”
County Commissioner Mary McCarty, former chairwoman of the county Republican Party, had kind words for the candidate. “He’s very well qualified, he has a good resume.”
“The Republicans are fortunate to have a field of good candidates,” she said, adding, “We can’t lose.” Martinez also won praise from President George W. Bush when the chief executive named him the 12th HUD secretary in January 2001.
“Since leaving his Cuban homeland as a boy, Mel Martinez has been the embodiment of the American dream and has had great success in helping the people of his community obtain affordable housing and urban services,” the president said.
The 56-year-old candidate fled to America in 1962 as part of a Catholic humanitarian effort called Operation Pedro Pan that eventually brought 14,000 children to this country. Catholic charitable groups provided Martinez, who was alone and spoke virtually no English, a temporary home at two youth facilities. He subsequently lived with two foster families, with whom he remains close. He was reunited with his family in Orlando in 1966.
He graduated from Florida State University College of Law in 1973. During his 25 years of law practice in Orlando, he was actively involved in community activities. He and his wife have three children and two grandchildren.
The poll shows Martinez’ popularity strongest in South Florida with its large Hispanic population and in Central Florida, where he served as Orange County chairman.
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