McCain's secret weapons in Florida
Melissa Shuffield, a top staffer in Republican Sen. John McCain's Washington office, has taken a leave to head up his campaign's media operation in Florida. She's no stranger to the state; before she joined McCain about one year ago, Shuffield helped elect and worked for U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez.
An endorsement from Martinez in the final days before Florida's Jan. 29 primary would be big for McCain, especially if he's already revved up from a win in South Carolina on Jan. 19. The two senators worked closely together on the failed legislation that would have allowed illegal immigrants to work toward citizenship
On the heels of his come-from-behind victory in New Hampshire last week, McCain is opening offices in Miami, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Jacksonville, Tampa and Pensacola.
For McCain, perhaps the next-best senator to Martinez in Florida - Connecticut Sen. Joe Lieberman - will campaign on his behalf Wednesday and Thursday. Lieberman practically became an honorary resident during the 2000 campaign as South Florida's heavily Jewish population embraced the prospect of a vice president of their own.
Lieberman will stump in Miami, Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach and will address the Republican Jewish Coaliton in Boca Raton. United by their support for the war in Iraq, the Democrat-turned Independent and Republican senators wrote a column this week that says the U.S. is succeeding.
Hialeah secret weapon at www.raulmartinez08.com
Posted by: J Gonzalez | January 13, 2008 at 02:55 AM