McCain's Big Florida Endorsement

By: Andante Higgins
Topics: John McCain

(CBS)

From CBS News' Dante Higgins:

MIAMI -- John McCain snagged a big endorsement at the Latin Builders Association in Miami: Sen. Mel Martinez, R-Fla.

"I've decided the best person to lead our country under these uncertain times, the man that we should trust with the leadership of our nation as our commander and chief has to be John McCain," said Martinez.

His endorsement was rumored for days but then news came yesterday that the endorsement was off when Martinez told reporters that he wouldn't endorse anyone and that he'd stay neutral through the primaries. Then he changed his mind.

"I got home last night and I realized that this election was coming up on Tuesday. I spoke with my wife who is a great counselor and we made the decision that I couldn't sit on the sidelines. John McCain is a good man. And I basically just decided that I couldn't just sit idly by. So there are still several days and I thought it would be important to get the word out," he said.

"I would not endorse anyone that I didn't have total confidence is going to be Castro's worst nightmare," the Cuban-American Martinez said to a roar of applause.

Martinez also chimed in on McCain's approach to a National Catastrophic Fund, which is to bring the federal government together with state and local leaders to figure out how to deal with funding after natural disasters, not to back a federal mandate.

"Look, that's the approach that Senator [Bill] Nelson [D-Fla.] and I have followed which is to bring together all the players. Now we tried to get a [catastrophic] fund but it's not going to happen. It's not going to pass through the Senate. There are too many senators from states that are not impacted, so I think the senator's [McCain's] approach is right."

McCain's campaign hopes Martinez's backing will help him with the Cuban-American vote and will be a blow to Giuliani who has been actively courting those voters in Florida for weeks.

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by harrjaso2 January 27, 2008 1:38 PM EST: Not only has McCain proven himself to be adept at lying, he is also a complete hypocrite. One year ago, he was talking about there needing to be benchmarks for withdrawal, and was considering throwing his full support behind these along with serious consequences if benchmarks not met.

As quoted from the online service of the Arizona star, written in Jan 2007

http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/byauthor/166271; Reply to this comment


by funuvit January 27, 2008 11:47 AM EST: DIRTY POLITICS McCAIN STYLE. ANOTHER FAVOR BOUGHT. Clearly Governor Crist must have found out that Mitt Romney was not going to let him use the placement of Florida''s Primary and it''s importance to get a VP job or other Washington-style favor for Crist. Don''t buy this same old McCain Washington-style bribe/favor politics of having people owed, special interests to cater to and people in his pocket to address. You strike the right self-serving deal with McCain, Crist and you will get the political gain that you want? This is what Washington Politicians do when they can''t stand on their record. McCain is a desperate and angry man who will stop at nothing to vindicate his losses rather that serve an ideology.; Reply to this comment


by stanzx1 January 27, 2008 11:01 AM EST: McCain and the 100 year War is careless and unthoughtful. How in the world can we as a Broke Nation continue the empire? McCain can get all the elite endorsements he wants but he won''t get the American people''s endorsement or enthusiasm. McCain is the Bridge to nowhere he is broke just like our country. He is not a conservative! His treasure is the oil in Iraq and not our troops! Let the markets work if KBR is such a great thing then let blackwater protect corporate greed not our soldiers!; Reply to this comment


by funuvit January 27, 2008 2:06 AM EST: My hope is that the people of Florida can see through McCain''s Washington-style politics of having favors owed, special interests to pay and people in his pocket to address. You beg long enough, you will get the endorsements you want. It is what Washington Politicians do when they can''t stand on their record. These are the acts of a desperate and angry man who was clearly showed up in the recent debate.; Reply to this comment


by ih2005 January 26, 2008 11:36 PM EST: At Bain Capital, Mr. Romney used offshore corporations to avoid U.S. taxation, and he fee-milked acquired businesses before firing workers and taking them into bankruptcy ( http://snipr.com/romneyoffshore ), to amass his great $250,000,000 wealth.

So, when you compare how Mr. Huckabee''s visionary FairTax advocacy ( http://snipr.com/nextrung ) compares to Romney''s interest in the current tax system, it''s pretty easy to see who will lead us out of tax slavery ( http://snipr.com/taxburden ) - $265 billion annual tax code compliance costs representing 5 billion wasted hours, annually.; Reply to this comment


by wendir8 January 26, 2008 11:11 PM EST: If you''re a true conservative Republican, please consider Mitt. McCain has proven himself a liar over and over again as he falls behind Mitt. The people of Florida can see through his show, and McCain will crash and burn on Tuesday! Don''t waste your votes on Guiliani and Huckabee....this is a 2-man race now!; Reply to this comment


by alancrane January 26, 2008 8:53 PM EST: McCain is just too old for the job.

He is trying very hard to stretch his experience to cover his deficiencies in leadership, management, and actual positive results. His 25 years in Washington did not show any noticeable results.

Twisting the words of you opponents is a new low for him in a desperate losing fight. If he does not win FLorida, he is done.

There is no question McCain is an American hero. He is just not the best person to lead the country.; Reply to this comment


by almanojodo January 26, 2008 8:30 PM EST: Romney is HONEST, McCain is DISHONEST! McCain did more than just misrepresent & and twist when he accused Romney of having a timeline for pullout of Iraq. McCain blatantly lied. He owes not just Romney an apology; he owes all of us as voters an apology!; Reply to this comment


by michaellitz2 January 26, 2008 3:57 PM EST: I''m sorry, but war hero or not, I will never support a man for the nomination who pushed for the AMNESTY bill for Illegals. Even after the American people made their OUTRAGE known to McCain and the rest of Washington he STILL favors amnesty for Illegals! This flies in the face of every principle of justice and fairness that I was ever taught from Sunday school to college. Reward the cheaters and let the law-abiders suffer?!! - NEVER!; Reply to this comment


by verycold January 26, 2008 3:02 PM EST: Advice to the Ron Paul crowd. Using the word "dummy" reflects badly on his supporters. Not so smart. I personally would like to stay with the issues and not see so much press about who is endorsing which candidate, or who is more black, or why women should only vote for a woman. Issues. Facts please; Reply to this comment