Sens. Nelson And Martinez: Florida Vote Will Count

Is next week's Florida primary just another beauty contest?

No way, say Florida Sens. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, and Mel Martinez, a Republican.

Starting today, the two senators appear in a public service announcement urging Florida voters to cast their ballots in the Jan. 29 primary. The senators said they decided to do the spot because they believed there was "widespread confusion" over the significance of the Florida presidential primary. Both national parties reprimanded the state in recent months for moving up the date of their primary. The Democratic Party decided to strip all of the state's delegates at the national convention while Republican Party took away half of their delegates.

"He's a Republican," Nelson says in the ad, unveiled on YouTube.

"And he's a Democrat," Martinez adds.

"But we're Floridians first," the two lawmakers chime together.

The lawmakers go on to say that the Sunshine State will play a pivotal role in choosing the nominees for both parties.

"The eyes of the nation will be on Florida," Martinez continues in the spot.

"And the winners in Florida could well decide who the next president will be," Nelson adds.