Posted on 01/25/2008 11:03:35 AM PST by MplsSteve
Florida Sen. Mel Martinez will endorse John McCain on Friday, The Associated Press has learned, a move likely to give the Republican presidential candidate a crucial boost with the state's Cuban-Americans just days before the primary.
The decision is a blow to Rudy Giuliani, the former New York mayor in a close fight with McCain for support of voters in the Cuban-American community _ and to keep his candidacy alive.
Two Republican officials disclosed the upcoming endorsement on the condition of anonymity to avoid pre-empting the announcement.
As recently as Thursday night, Martinez indicated he would remain neutral in the race, though noted that he was close friends with McCain.
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Much of the endorsement’s value will be lost when McCain publicly greets Sen. Martinez as “German Ambassador Jack Kemp”.
That’s the only thing good about John McCain being nominated: seeing him miserably defeated and humbled on a national level.
This appears to be largely poll-driven; I believe that Senator Martinez considers Senator McCain to be well ahead of Mr. Giuliani in Florida.
good point
Gilchrist endorsed HUCKABEE, as has Duncan Hunter.
Also, the best Senator in Congress, Dr. Tom Coburn, has endorsed McCain.
So are you going to line up behind Huckabee? Or behind McCain? Pick one.
Easily she can beat him - I think you or I could, also. Couldn’t vote for this liberal - who TNYT endorsed yesterday.
I think they know he’s an idiot but that’s not important - they have him in their pocket.
Martinez and McCain — the amnesty gang rides again.
You are correct. Gilchrist Huck. My mistake.
My preferences are Romney, McCain and Huck in that order.
I don’t believe any of these guys are truly hard core conservatives. But that’s the way I see it, at this stage, all things considered.
I don’t think there is an obviously right or wrong answer in this difficult primary for conservative Republicans. In part, that is what my previous post about showing a little humility here is probably appropriate (though my memory was mistaken on Gilchrist, but not on Tancredo). Your animus to Romney is duly noted, and that is fine, but I suggest only that Romney is a defensible choice at this stage, all things considered (with part of the consideration being who is in his camp and could serve as a check to any mistakes he might make in the future should he win).
And Lincoln Diaz-Balart (my rep) is going to have the race of his life in November since Raul Martinez (former longtime Democratic mayor of Hialeah for those who don't know) announced that he was running against him.
If McCain is our parties’ eventual nominee, I will vote for him - but not willingly at all.
Nor will I do anything to help the McCain effort in my state. I will do any volunteer work for legislative candidates instead.
Diaz-Balart made a fool of himself last night on MSNBC... couldn’t even string a few coherent sentences together.
Couple of things. First, unlike most of the rest of the country, illegal immigration is virtually a non-issue in South Florida. (It registers in the single digits in terms of Republican voter concern down here.) So the McAmnesty rap doesn't play at all.
Second, whatever his other failings may be, McCain can be fairly characterized as a foreign policy hawk. That and the fact that he is running as a Republican is all most Cuban-Americans need to know.
Third, Latinos in general like caudillo-style leadership -- a strongman. A guy who will blow his top from time to time. McCain fits this mold. The others do not.
Nam Vet
I've been singularly unimpressed with his TV appearances as well. To his credit, and for what it's worth, he is quite fiery in Spanish on the local AM Spanish talk radio stations, which are quite influential among the older (and voting) exile population. I've generally been supportive of him -- his ACU rating is up there -- but I've never found him terribly effective and he is a bit too Cuba-centric in his focus, to say the least. He could lose this November -- Raul Martinez is a monster and a master pol.
Demint has endorsed Romney. I don’t know about Inhofe.
Demint has endorsed Romney. I don’t know about Inhofe.
Demint has endorsed Romney. I don’t know about Inhofe.
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