South Florida pushes for Latin senator (to replace Corzine in N.J.)

A tug-of-war some 1,000 miles from Miami that has pitted Hispanic politicians against Democratic Party chiefs could prove critical to South Florida: The result may be a second Cuban-American U.S. senator.

The election of U.S. Sen. Jon Corzine, a Democrat, to the governor's office in New Jersey two weeks ago has created a rare open seat in the U.S. Senate, and Hispanic groups are agitating for the post to go to U.S. Rep. Bob Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat born to Cuban parents.

The plethora of candidates is daunting: Nearly every Democratic member of New Jersey's congressional delegation has signaled interest, and Corzine -- who will make the selection -- is said to also be looking at elevating a black female state senator.

The stakes are high. The appointee would be forced to defend the seat in November 2006 against an aggressive and well-funded challenge from Republican state Sen. Tom Kean Jr., the son of former New Jersey Gov. Tom Kean.



http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/13229843.htm?template=contentModules/printstory.jsp

N.J. who to choose?

As tight as Fla has been, a little party-wide backing could swing Fla blue. Something concrete would go a lot farther than generic promises.

We always cater to the Cuba Libre crowd and they always screw us by voting Repuke.

just trying to weight the potential positives of a Hispanic appointee. Could make for interesting spin in 2006 when the Repub starts to attack someone from an ethnic group they have been trying to co-opt. Might not have much effect in Miami, but there are lots of places a high level Hispanic Dem could make a difference.

The appointment of a Black woman would be very positive too. Think Corzine is savvy enough to make a good choice, just don't see any problem with a Cuban-American for NJ.

As the op noted, all the NJ reps where interested, main thing is a Dem left the Senate and he will pick a Dem as a replacement. It's all good, hope the eventual appointee serves for a long time.

and expect the right wing Cubans to switch - did Powell and Rice in high positions work in giving the Republicans the Black vote?
I don't know enough to know if he's good or bad. I do know that Codey could win in 2006.

There's a Hispanic community in Miami called Sweetwater in which foreign policy is the overpowering debate while contesting even the most minor local positions. Very passionate and they want to influence everything.

it's step sisters and brothers.

It's a small town in southwest Miami, I'm guessing 25,000 people or less. It has an interesting past, founded by Russian midgets. I kid you not, that's the local legend and I've heard many times it's true. Recently I heard that it's nearly 95% Hispanic.

I play golf in a course in that area and many times I've had political flyers put on my windshield during a round, some local candidate listing all his views and they're invariably regarding Cuba, Castro and foreign policy. The local weekly papers are always full of blaring headlines in bold print. I don't speak much Spanish but it's usually recognizable as foreign policy and my sister who is fluent in Spanish has translated many articles for me which read like a local determination to change the world.

governor's call.

Fuck off.

Seriously, this is wedge stuff concocted by Rove, trying to make a positive out of Forrester's ass-whupping. Maybe Tom Kean Jr. will be strong, maybe not. Corzine should put in the most qualified candidate, lunatic Miamicubanos be damned.

Nobody fm the NJ machine should get that seat. It should go to someone with a clean record (like Codey, or Rush Holt.)

They're lockstep Rethugs and not even worth thinking about.

have a Hispanic Senator?

A freshman senator. Ne narrowly defeated Betty Castro last November, by much closer margin than Bush carried the state.

The world doesn't revolve around them and they need to stay out of business they have no right to be involved with.

I really can not believe they are going to tell another state how to run their elections. Getting a little greedy aren't they ? They really need to stop pushing only for their own race but for the best candidate to win the election period.

:kick:

to get this seat into the GOP's hands. We need a strong clean candidate.