Florida Senate race could help presidential candidates

[Judi Lynn]

Posted on Sun, Oct. 31, 2004

Florida Senate race could help presidential candidates

BRENT KALLESTAD
Associated Press


TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - It wasn't just a coincidence the White House wanted U.S. Senate candidate Mel Martinez on Florida's ballot next to President Bush in November.

Republicans stand a better chance to collect Florida's 27 electoral votes with a solid backing from the state's Cuban-Americans, a group that heavily supports Republicans. And there's little doubt that the opportunity to elect the first Cuban-American senator will give them more motivation to vote.
But Democrats also have a candidate, Betty Castor, who could attract more voters. With only 14 women among the 100 senators in Washington, Democrats are hoping women will have an extra incentive to vote Nov. 2, which could help John Kerry.

While Senate candidates running in presidential election years often benefit from the large turnout for the top of the ticket, Florida's Senate race is in the unique position of being able to help the presidential candidates with two key voting groups.

"It was so clear that George W. Bush wanted Martinez to win the Republican nomination," said Aubrey Jewett, a political science professor at the University of Central Florida. "He did everything but formally endorse. The thinking all along would be they hoped for bottom-up help instead of the traditional coattails going from the president to Martinez."
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http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/breaking_news/10064275.htm
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[Florida_Geek]

1. Betty Castor is running ahead in the polls

and even the Repug Tampa Tribune picked her over dirty ads Martinez

[ItsTheMediaStupid]

2. Younger Cubans aren't all blind anti-Castro conservatives

They realize that our policies towards Cuba are a joke, unlike their elders.

[jpak]

3. Martinez is a graduate of the Tom Delay School of Charm

Betty's gonna beat his sorry freeper ass this Tuesday.

I can't wait to hear his concession speech...LOL!