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Polls Show Close Races For GOP's Diaz-Balart Brothers
Two Republican Congressman from Florida, brothers Lincoln and Mario Diaz-Balart, could both be in serious fights to hold on to their districts, according to new polling.
The polling from Bendixen and Associates, a Florida-based firm that specializes in surveying areas with large percentages of Spanish-speakers, finds Lincoln ahead of Democratic candidate Raul Martinez by a 41%-37% margin, within the ±5% margin of error. Mario leads Dem candidate Joe Garcia by 44%-39%, also with a ±5% margin of error.
Both brothers have had pretty easy rides to re-election during their time in Congress, but this year might just be different.
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Comments (10)
Imagine what the percentages would be if Debbie Wasserman-Schultz wasn't boycotting the efforts of Martinez and Garcia? Her complacency wrt the D-B brothers speaks volumes about how the South Florida game gets played. No wonder Bush got appointed in 2000.
July 8, 2008 12:36 AM | Reply | Permalink
One bad apple spoils the whole barrel. Wasserman-Schultz is an anomoly down here in that regard. I've been here all my life and never heard of a Democrat refusing to campaign for other Democrats just because s/he has worked with the Republicans in Congress. As far as I'm concerned, she's another Lieberman and should have consequences for this. The idea that we might actually get rid of the Diaz-Balart brothers is so exciting, but to have Wasserman-Schultz acting this way really puts a damper on it.
July 8, 2008 1:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Another local here, IMHO there is a groundswell of support for anybody but the GOP around here, the trick that the D-B brothers used to get elected an apathetic electorate and "los viejitos" (old anti-castro cuban-american) voting as a block for the GOP could be rendered inoperative this election season if BHO's campaign get the GOTV going strong in Nov.
July 8, 2008 9:33 AM | Reply | Permalink
My thoughts exactly. I have warmed to her a smidge as she has been a pretty vocal supporter of Obama on women's issues now that HRC is out of the race but that doesn't absolve her of this kindo of crap. Still glad the dems are in the hunt despite her. Lets hope Obama's FL GOTV efforts are top notch and even if they don't bring FL home in the Pres race, that it is enough to swing these.
July 8, 2008 2:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
I lived in South Florida for nearly 30 years. Raul Martinez is far from an ideal candidate, having endured (and ulimately survived) three successive trials on charges of extortion and racketeeting. I once lobbied him for a social service contract for a nonprofit organization I chaired. The belief was that he took care of his friends, and that if you wanted to do business with the City of Hialeah you needed the right contacts.
The Diaz-Balart brothers in my opinion are idiots; I was in Lincoln's district. If I were still there I would probably vote for anyone running against them.
July 8, 2008 8:26 AM | Reply | Permalink
Martinez sounds like a great politician then.
Diaz Balart brothers are going down!
in FL we could pick up atleast 5 house seats cause people here are ticked off cause of the housing bust and the horrible economy we are suffering through. this is the year to do it.
July 8, 2008 8:31 AM | Reply | Permalink
Raul was prosecuted by the husband of a political rival and the results of that one set of charges, through three trials, were acquittals, dismissals and investigation into prosecutorial misconduct.
July 8, 2008 8:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
It's a wonderful political slogan: "I was acquitted on all charges!"
Hey I would love for both seats to change parties. But I hope no one holds their breath waiting for Raul Martinez to be a Democratic hero.
July 8, 2008 9:21 AM | Reply | Permalink
Floridians on this thread: If you dislike the bums, organize, mobilize, and GET RID OF THEM. And that goes double for DSW as my friends often refer to Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. And that goes triple for your Senate Leader who got amnesia about his role in screwing up the Primary this year...
July 8, 2008 11:49 AM | Reply | Permalink
There seems to be no accountability for Wasserman-Schultz. The republicans try to rip the democratic party to shreds every election and still we have congressmen who'd rather sit on the sidelines than help elect a bigger majority.
We need more primary challenges against these democrats.
July 8, 2008 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink