Martinez Wins Senate Race in Florida; Castor Concedes
November 3, 2004
Republican Mel Martinez will become the first Cuban-American Senator after a tight race with Democrat Betty Castor.

Castor conceded in a press conference at approximately 11:00 a.m. EST with 250,000 votes uncounted.

"This is as close as it gets, in my humble estimation," Castor told reporters in Tampa. "It's not completely over but realistically, truthfully, it would be very difficult to make up the difference."

Martinez, who left President Bush's cabinet to run for retiring Sen. Bob Graham's seat, led by 79,067 votes out of the 7.1 million counted.

Martinez had already declared victory earlier on Wednesday.

"This is not a night for lawyers. I won. It's over," Martinez said at an Orlando hotel, the Associated Press reported.

Castor, Martinez Criss-cross State in Last Minute Drive for Votes
November 1, 2004
Update: With the Florida Senate Race a virtual dead heat between Republican Mel Martinez and Democrat Betty Castor, both candidates zipped around the state in the final days of the campaign in an attempt to shore up their base and reach out to swing voters. Both candidates were joined on the trail by political heavy-hitters and celebrities.

Martinez joined President George W. Bush at a number of rallies across the state over weekend. Comparing the presidential events with his normal campaign rallies Martinez said it was like the difference between a college football game and the NFL Super Bowl. On Monday Martinez campaigned with former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani.

"We're very encouraged by the crowds," Martinez said Sunday. "We're very confident right now, without being cocky.''

Castor was joined by Democratic presidential candidate, Sen. John Kerry, retiring Florida Sen. Bob Graham, and Florida troubadour/environmental activist Jimmy Buffet at various events Sunday and Monday.

In the final days you need to motivate your base and you try to get as much visibility as you can," Castor told reporters. "You show people you're committed while you send out positive vibes and positive messages."

Florida Senate Candidates Face Off in First Debate
October 19, 2004
Update: Florida U.S. Senate hopefuls Democrat Betty Castor and Republican Mel Martinez faced off in their first debate Monday, clashing over terrorism, Iraq, Social Security, prescription drugs and abortion.

The first questions from moderator Tim Russert focused on Sami al-Arian, a former University of South Florida professor who has been linked to terrorist groups in the Middle East. Al-Arian was a professor at USF when Castor served as the university's president during the 1990s.

Florida Senate Campaign Begins Anew in Wake of Hurricanes
September 20, 2004
Update: The combination of three major hurricanes temporarily knocked the Florida U.S. Senate race off local front pages, but both campaigns have now launched a series of ads aimed at shoring up support from key constituencies and reaching out to undecided voters.

The ads also seem designed to address areas of perceived weakness in each candidate.

The theme of the ad is one Martinez has often used in campaign speeches. The message is expected to energize the mostly Republican Cuban American community in South Florida and campaign strategists hope it will resonate with middle class voters in the state's I-4 corridor.

Political analysts have said the I-4 region, which cuts east to west across the central part of the state, is home to the voters who will likely decide both the presidential and Senate races.

Current Democratic Sen. Bob Graham, who will retire after his current term, has criticized Martinez for close ties to the president, saying Martinez would not be an independent voice in the Senate and would vote in "lockstep" with the president.

Democratic candidate Betty Castor has also launched a series of ads in I-4 media markets.