I backed Johnnie Byrd in the primary, because I thought McCollum didn't have what it took to win statewide, but in hindsight I was probably wrong and should have went with McCollum.
Many Florida freepers are revising history, insisting Martinez was the only Republican on the planet who could beaten Betty Castro (a C-grade opponent -- NOT a big name legendary Florida Democrat), and that simply isn't the case. Seeing how well McCollum did in 2006 (a huge Dem year), I think he probably would have won in 2004 with Bush atop the ticket. As would have Doug Gallenger or Johnnie Byrd for that matter.
So the freepers saying Martinez was the only viable option the GOP had in order to "stop Castro" are lying. Plenty of Republicans from Jeb Bush, to Connie Mack, to Bill McCollum, to George W. Bush, have won handily in statewide Florida races, and they don't have a drop of "hispanic" blood.
I agree Martinez makes a better Senator than a socialist like Betty, but not that we "had to" run him for office. Quite the opposite. He was probably one the worst "electable" candidates the FL GOP put worth.
The Florida freepers who backed this scumbag in the primary were wrong to do so, and need to come to terms with that. THEY, not the "party leaders", are the reason we have a amnesty talking-head in the Senate. Pretending Martinez was the only Republican to run doesn't help their case.
McCollum had the experience and I think the name recognition to win. Mel ran an nasty campaign IIRC.