Martinez: Not giving up

Raul Martinez's campaign manager, told reporters Tuesday night before results began rolling in, that "win, lose or draw'' the Martinez camp will "thoroughly'' pursue its allegations of voter fraud by opponent Lincoln Diaz-Balart.

Jeff Garcia, in a statement to reporters at Martinez's election night headquarters at a Hialeah Gardens hotel, said the Martinez campaign suspects more voter fraud by the Diaz-Balart camp possibly involving absentee ballots.

Garcia cited as possible evidence a dramatic 115 percent increase in the number of absentee ballots cast by Republicans in this election: 29,316 compared to 13,408 in 2004. (When Diaz-Balart's opponent was a Libertarian Party candidate and President Bush was on the ballot.)

"Unfortunately, there is a long history of absentee ballot fraud in Miami Dade County and we must pursue this case to remove any doubt as to the true will of the voter,'' he wrote.

He also raised the possibility that Martinez may challenge any potential Diaz-Balart victory in the courts because of fraud suspicion. As precedent, Garcia cited the 1998 voter fraud case in which the courts invalidated a Miami election and ordered a new one.

- ALFONSO CHARDY