Dan Webster receives endorsements of two congressmen [FL Senate]

Bradenton Herald (AP) ^ | Mar. 08, 2004 | MIKE SCHNEIDER (AP)

[JohnnyZ]

ORLANDO, Fla. - Daniel Webster's U.S. Senate campaign on Monday received the endorsements of two U.S. congressmen who praised the state senator as one of the people most responsible for building up the Republican Party in Florida.

U.S. Reps. Tom Feeney, R-Fla., and Dave Weldon, R-Fla., said Webster was ideologically the best candidate out of a strong field of Republican candidates.

Feeney, who described Webster as "my mentor," credited him with helping the Republican Party of Florida build from a minority party to one that now controls the governor's mansion and the Legislature. Both Webster and Feeney were Florida House speakers and they used to eat dinner together once a week with other conservative lawmakers in Tallahassee.

"Probably in the past 10 years, the most important person in terms of transforming the Republican Party in Florida politics has been Jeb Bush," Feeney said at a news conference. "But if you look back for 20 years, it clearly has been Dan Webster. The truth of the matter is nothing gets done where conservatives and Republicans don't put their imprint on."

Weldon praised Webster for being principled.

"He is a man of integrity, a man of honesty, sincerity," said Weldon, who spoke at the news conference by telephone from Washington. "He shares the core Republican values that I hold dear to. The importance of family, the importance of the right to life, of limited government, of personal responsibility."

A poll released Monday showed Webster trailing behind other Republican candidates.

Former Rep. Bill McCollum and former U.S. Housing Secretary Mel Martinez were virtually tied, with McCollum the choice of 19 percent and Martinez favored by 18 percent. Webster and four other Republicans - including House Speaker Johnnie Byrd, former New Hampshire Sen. Bob Smith, Miami lawyer Larry Klayman and Miami businessman Doug Gallagher - were in low single digits. Forty-four percent undecided.

The statewide phone survey of 800 registered voters was conducted for the St. Petersburg Times and The Miami Herald.

Other Florida Republican congressmen are backing other candidates.

U.S. Reps. Mark Foley and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen have endorsed Martinez. McCollum has been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart and his younger brother, U.S. Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart.

Democrats running for the Senate seat include Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas, U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch of Lauderhill and former Education Commissioner Betty Castor of Tampa.

[JohnnyZ]

Interesting that Feeney and Weldon endorsed Webster over congresscritter McCollum, though Feeney didn't serve with Bill McC. Webster would be a good candidate if he can generate support.

[JohnnyZ]

Senate Ping

Remember to browse Campaign Central!

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-campaign2002/browse

[Clintonfatigued]

Daniel Webster is an honorable public servant. His principled conservatism makes him popular among the activists, but he's also highly-regarded by many people who don't agree with his ideology. Most of his 'Rat colleagues like him personally, and even among liberal groups, he has a reputation for fairness. In fact, Johnny Byrd's supporters claim that Webster is too nice to win. He's my sentimental favorite, but sentiment doesn't win elections. He has one big problem, the way the Titanic had a problem with an iceberg: he has virtually no name recognition and his fundraising is lackluster. Maybe he should set his sights lower, like Orange County Commission Chairman (which Mel Martinez once held).

[zbigreddogz]

Yah, your right.

How about this guy run for the House at some point in a R district? maybe run for Senate later.

I say give Rove what he wants on this one. Mel Martenez will raise the money and get out the Cubans. Both good things.

[Abram]

I echo your comments on this. Getting the Cuban-American base out to vote and raising a bunch of money is key in this important race.