In Florida, Martinez Gains as McCollum Moves Left

NEWSMAX ^ | Tuesday, June 29, 2004 | Carl Limbacher

[kjfpolitical]

As the August primary for Florida’s U.S. Senate race draws near, the election is turning out to be a two-way race between former U.S. congressman Bill McCollum and Mel Martinez, President Bush’s former secretary of housing.

Though Martinez entered the race late, he has gained considerably despite McCollum's name recognition and large campaign war chest. McCollum ran for the Senate in 2000 but lost to Democrat Bill Nelson in an increasingly Republican state.

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Now Martinez's growing support appears to becoming from those in McCollum's conservative base who think he has the best shot in replacing retiring Democrat Sen. Bob Graham. Washington Republicans believe that with a close election likely in November, the Cuban-born Martinez will draw Latino voters to the GOP and help President Bush.

Conservatives have been upset that McCollum recently joined with liberal legislators such as Sen. Teddy Kennedy to call for stem cell research on human embryos. The pro-life Martinez says he will vote to ban such practices, which, as the Associated Press has pointed out, are not a priority among scientists.

Conservatives were similarly angry during the 2000 election when McCollum came out strongly for the liberal version of the "hate crimes" bill, also pushed by Kennedy, that included "sexual orientation."

The gay lobby strongly supported the inclusion, but conservatives note that crimes such as assault and murder are of course already illegal and that such laws can be used to persecute and prosecute what the left deems to be thought crimes.

The Washington Blade reported on Sept. 1, 2000, "Democratic Party supporters of the hate crimes measure, including openly Gay Rep. Barney Frank (D-Mass.), said they welcome McCollum's effort, saying that, until now, House GOP leaders have been the main obstacle to final approval of the hate crimes legislation …."

Some conservatives believe that McCollum's loss in 2000 in the same state President Bush narrowly won was due to his wobbly stand on issues that turned off social conservatives.

Martinez opposes the Senate's recently passed "hate crimes" bill. The Senate passed the bill only after it was tacked onto a defense authorization bill because Senate Democrats did not have the votes for passage in a straight up and down vote.

[JulieRNR21]

Looks to me like Martinez's conservative principals are just what FL needs!

http://www.melforsenate.org/

[Seeking the truth]

Many believe McCollum was a weak campaigner.

Julie, you are being charitable - he was clueless!

On November 3 or 4 in Election 2000, he showed up on "my corner" in Boca Raton holding a Vote For Me sign!

All alone.

No one knew he was in town.

"My Corner" is a very busy (Palmetto & Military intersection - 6 lanes) road where many a Clinton Impeachment Freep was held as well as a 3-4 times/week corner where we would have dozen or two BushPeople doing sign waving.

[JulieRNR21]

Hi Gene.....thanks for your input......confirms what I've heard.

BTW.....you are missed!
Hope you are happy in NV!

[Warrior Nurse]

Your beef is with state Senators, who are elected to deal with state issues.

My beef is with both state and federal Senators my friend because both are lock step with each other. Martinez and McCollum are both establishment politicians and it is time for new blood. We keep sending the same old tired people to DC and Tallahassee and for what?

[jjw]

Please add me to your list.

[Beetleman]

Maybe Pat Buchanan will restart a conservative party.

[swampfox98]

LOL Better not say that name on FR. I'd like to see Tom Tancredo of Colorado start a conservative party. Karl Rove is going see to it that the Republicans deep six him as soon as possible anyway, so he needs somewhere to go, and so do true conservatives.

[4integrity]

Hi Grumpy! St. Pete here.

[4integrity]

Wow. I need to do some homework. I've been supporting McCollum....thanks to all for info.

[Joe Brower]

Please add me to your list.

Done!

[katherineisgreat]

Hi Julie!

It sounds like Martinez is picking up steam.

I haven't posted in ages, as the college search is accelerating and times getting more scarce. I miss you guys, though!

sayfiereview.com has daily Florida Politics updates you can sign up for.

It looks like Martinez has a very good chance, and appears to be struggling.

[JulieRNR21]

WOW......so nice to get your post.....I was thinking about you recently and wondering how you were doing.

Thanks for the tip about:

www.sayfiereview.com

I will check it out.

I think Martinez has what it takes to win.
We need a FL Republican in the Senate!

[TheRedSoxWinThePennant]

It's unfortunate that Byrd has been hammered by the liberal florida press for years. he is a good solid conservative. McCollum ran an absolutely terrible campaign in 2000 against Nelson.

[zetapsi]

Come on now... conservative Principles? How about the fact that he has contributed to numerous campaigns for Democrats thru the years.... including BOB GRAHAM who you claim to hate so much. Apparently your buddy Mel doesn't feel the same way about Graham as the rest of his "fellow" conservatives do.

The way you guys trash McCollum is shameful. Here's a man who fought hard for our state for 20 years, help Afghanistan beat the Soviets, found the House Taskforce on Terrorism..... and you people revere Mel when all he's ever done is win a County Commissionership. Where does this add up? Bill McCollum is an honest, nice man, conservative in principle and will be a far better Senator than Mel Martinez... a liberal trial lawyer who opposes the President's healthcare reform bill. If he was really the President's boy, then his stances would be further right.... not in the pocket of the Florida Trial Lawyer Association...which he used to be President of I might add..... but keep tryin guys.

[JulieRNR21]

I don't think I personally trashed McCollum. Actually I admire him especially for his efforts during the Clinton Impeachment.

He ran a poor campaign in 2000 and lost to Bill Nelson. I've seen no evidence he's doing a better job this time.

McCollum is supporting the use of embryos for medical research. Martinez opposes that and so do I......that's why I'm supporting Martinez.

---

Thursday, June 17, 2004 NewsMax
In Florida, Martinez and McCollum Fight Over Stem Cell Research

With Ronald Reagan’s passing last week, the stem cell debate has grown – and it could become a major issue in an increasingly competitive race for the Republican Senate nomination in Florida.

Polls show the race is shaping up as a two-way battle between former congressman Bill McCollum and former federal housing secretary Mel Martinez.


Martinez has stated he will fight against research on human embryos. Stem cells come from aborted fetuses, and pro-lifers believe the research should not be permitted by law.

McCollum has argued for the research.

Among the other candidates in the Republicans' race, Florida House Speaker Johnnie Byrd and lawyer Larry Klayman are opposed to research on human embryos.

Doug Gallagher, like McCollum, has sided with the major Democrat contenders to support such studies, the Tampa Tribune reported.

Martinez backs the pro-life work of his wife, Kitty, a board member of Florida Right to Life and of the Susan B. Anthony Foundation, his campaign said.

"All of us want to see progress in curing these terrible diseases, but not at the price of devaluing our humanity,” Martinez said in a statement. "I cannot condone destroying any life for the sake of medical research.”

McCollum stated that he was "an ardent supporter of preserving the sanctity of all human life” but that he would join with Nancy Reagan’s "courageous view” in supporting stem cell research. But a number of conservatives have noted that Mrs. Reagan has not held President Reagan’s view on pro-life issues.

"I also believe that a critical part of being pro-life is helping the living ... with the science now available to us,” McCollum said.

President Bush has strongly opposed research that destroys human embryos.

Reagan's death has increased attacks on Bush’s opposition to exploitation of human embryos for medical research. However, as the Associated Press reported Friday, scientists put a low priority on use of embryonic stem cells and say advances against Alzheimer’s and other diseases are more likely to come from non-lethal research.

[Rightwing Conspiratr1]

What did he have to do for all those beads? Hmm.

[JulieRNR21]

I don't understand your post.

[CFC__VRWC]

But it seems to me that in an increasingly conservative state like Florida that McCollum should have done better than he did.

McCollum was a crappy campaigner, and it looks like he's learned nothing from the experience. He was very uninspiring on the stump, and just didn't seem to have any passion or desire for the office he was seeking. Of course, the media down here (extremely liberal) piled onto him early and hard, but that's to be expected and any Republican candidate has to be ready to counter them.

I knew right away when McCollum tossed his hat into the ring that he would never get elected. The question in my mind then became, "Will he do us a favor and tank during the primaries, or will he wait until the general, when we're stuck with him? Hopefully this is a sign that he won't survive the primary.

[Lancey Howard]

BUMP for Mel!!!

[zetapsi]

I don't get it. So losing one election is the standard for a political "loser"? Bill McCollum has won 10 (!!!) mutlticounty elections, but he's suddenly unelectable. Martinez has never won an election besides a COUNTY COMMISSIONER which if you haven't noticed, is NONPARTISAN.
Let me give you a list of people who lost elections before winning the next cycle: George W. Bush and Jeb Bush...aren't you glad they ran again?

McCollum did not run an effective grass roots campaign last time around, and I'm confident he's learned from that. However, he is far and away a better candidate than the others.... despite the popularity of hispanic last name, which, by the way, is the only reason there is any buzz about a liberal trial lawyer county commissioner anyway.