Republican candidates court Hispanic voters
McCain received the
backing of an influential Florida senator.
MCCLATCHY NEWSPAPERS
MIAMI — Cocktails with John McCain? Breakfast with Mitt Romney?
The four leading Republican presidential candidates courted South Florida’s Hispanic vote Friday, paying homage to the influential Latin Builders Association as they jockeyed for votes days before Floridians go to the polls Tuesday.
Romney appeared for breakfast, former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani was the lunchtime speaker and former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee spoke just as the dessert and coffee were rolled out.
But Arizona Sen. John McCain stole the show with a happy-hour appearance, snaring the backing of Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla., a Cuban-American who was born on the island.
“I understand that he is ready on day one to lead this nation, and I would trust the future and the security of this nation to this man,” Martinez said as he introduced McCain. And, he added to applause, “I would not endorse someone that I didn’t have total confidence is going to be [Fidel] Castro’s worst nightmare.”
Martinez, who’d been expected to endorse McCain last week but delayed his decision, said Friday that he talked the issue over with his wife, Kitty, and decided: “I couldn’t sit on the sidelines. John McCain is a good man. He needs to be our next president, and I basically just decided I couldn’t sit idly by.”
The backing came as a blow to Giuliani, who’s been close to Martinez and had hoped to win his support.
Former Massachusetts Gov. Romney’s rival campaign called the endorsement a “good get.” So did political observers.
“It’s a big deal,” said Gus Gil, the immediate past president of the construction association. “It’s very important for the community. And it’s great for McCain.”
Martinez’s endorsement could help McCain with a key demographic: the Hispanic vote.