Meek endorses Penelas in Senate race

Herald ^ | 1/12/04 | Ken Thomas

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

U.S. Rep. Kendrick Meek endorsed Alex Penelas for the U.S. Senate on Monday, calling the Miami-Dade County mayor a candidate who could reach out to the parents of school-age children and the state's growing Hispanic community.

Meek, a Miami Democrat who led the charge to place class size limits in the state constitution, said Penelas shared his allegiance to education issues and would attract "level-minded moderates" and Hispanics often key among an evenly divided electorate.

"Hispanics will have a strong option of someone who has stood strong on behalf of fairness and equity," Meek said.

Penelas said Meek "has been right on the issues throughout his public service career." The mayor also led an education initiative in 2002, pushing for universal pre-kindergarten for all 4-year-olds starting in 2005.

Meek is considered an influential member of the state's black community, succeeding his mother, former U.S. Rep. Carrie Meek. She has yet to make an endorsement, but the congressman noted that his mother backed Penelas during his last mayoral bid.

Last week, rival U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch picked up the support of another heavyweight in the state's black community, U.S. Rep. Alcee Hastings of Miramar.

Meek said the Fort Lauderdale-area congressman aggressively sought his backing and asserted the Hastings endorsement may have been made early because of his support for the mayor.

Ryan Hampton, a Deutsch spokesman, said the Hastings endorsement had been in the planning stages for several weeks and had no connection to Meek's announcement.

"That's U.S. Rep.Meek's decision and hopefully U.S. Rep.Meek will support us when we're the nominee," Hampton said.

Penelas and Deutsch face former state Education Commissioner Betty Castor in the Democratic primary to succeed retiring Sen. Bob Graham.

The Republican field includes former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum of Longwood, state Sen. Dan Webster of Winter Garden, House Speaker Johnnie Byrd of Plant City, former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez of Orlando, Miami lawyer Larry Klayman and former New Hampshire Sen. Bob Smith of Sarasota. Republican U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris of Sarasota is considering a campaign.

Klayman said Monday his campaign raised more than $500,000 during the last three months.

McCollum has raised nearly $2 million and Byrd has collected more than $1.6 million through the end of the year. Klayman's total puts him on target with others in the field - Byrd raised more than $770,000 during the last three months of the year, compared to almost $524,000 raised by McCollum over the same period.

Last week Deutsch said he raised about $800,000 during the final quarter, raising his total to $4 million. Penelas brought in nearly $400,000 during the quarter, increasing his total to about $2 million. Castor's campaign is expected to release its figures this week.

McCollum announced in Pensacola that two former prisoners of war during the Vietnam War will co-chair his statewide "Veterans for McCollum" group. They are retired Air Force Col. George "Bud" Day, a Fort Walton Beach lawyer and Medal of Honor recipient, and retired Navy Cmdr. Robert Flynn of Pensacola.

[End Times Sentinel]

Meek, a Miami Democrat who led the charge to place class size limits in the state constitution

 

HAH!  You've been outted Richard!  I always secretly thought you were a troll... ;-)

 

 

Owl_Eagle

" WAR IS PEACE
FREEDOM IS SLAVERY
DIVERSITY IS STRENGTH"

Meek, a Miami Democrat who led the charge to place class size limits in the state constitution

HAH!  You've been outted Richard!  I always secretly thought you were a troll... ;-)

[JohnnyZ]

Oh well, I was hoping Deutsch would get Meek in addition to Alcee.

Floriduh Democrat Endorsements
#2 Allen Boyd - none
#3 Corrine Brown - none
#11 Jim Davis - none
#17 Kendrick Meek - PENELAS
#19 Robert Wexler - none
#20 Peter Deutsch - DEUTSCH
#23 Alcee Hastings - DEUTSCH

That's it, folks. That's all the Rat major officeholders in Florida!

[Pubbie]

*Ping!

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Oh well, I was hoping Deutsch would get Meek in addition to Alcee."

---

This is what I wrote on Friday:

"Penelas isn't as liberal as Deutsch, and could do well with Cubans and other Hispanics (especially if Mel Martinez doesn't get the GOP nomination), which is why I'd much rather that Deutsch wins the primary. Since most Cubans are registered Republicans, and since Penelas shares the Miami area with Deutsch (who will likely own the Jewish vote and---after Alcee's endorsement---should do very well with black voters), I don't see Penelas getting enough votes to win the primary.

We now have to keep our eye out to see who Congressman Kendrick Meek and his mom endorse, since they are the only black leaders in South Florida whose influence comes close to Alcee's."

I hope it wasn't I who jinxed it for the Lying Deutschman there . . .

[JohnnyZ]

No need to repeat you posts. I commit them all to memory!

[MeekOneGOP]

Meek, a Miami Democrat who led the charge to place class size limits in the state constitution

 

HAH!  You've been outted Richard!  I always secretly thought you were a troll... ;-)

LOL ! That's funny. Meek came up earlier today on another thread too !:

U.S. calls Saddam an 'EPW' not POW

Meek, a Miami Democrat who led the charge to place class size limits in the state constitution

HAH!  You've been outted Richard!  I always secretly thought you were a troll... ;-)

[Tumbleweed_Connection]

This has obviously gotten out of hand. I read nothing other than the title and listed nothing other than MEEK in KEYWORDS.

Leave for a little while...

[jagrmeister]

I predict there will be a battle royale between the black community and hispanic community that makes up the pillars of the Democratic party, before the primary is over. A number of nasty things are going to be said about Pinelas. Mel Martinez, should he get the nod, will be the beneficiary.

Will someone please tell that nerd McCollum that no way in hell is he going to ruin another golden opportunity of winning a Senate race. He squandered it against Nelson and he's done nothing in intervening years to suggest he'll do any better. He can't take a hint.