Election Results For Florida
Nov 5, 2008 12:58 am US/Eastern
Raul Martinez Says He Fought Against The Odds
HIALEAH (CBS4) ―
-
-
Former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez announced his bid for a US Rep. Seat this year. He ran against Lincoln Diaz-Balart of District 21.
CBS
It was called one of the nastiest races in the U.S. by the media, but in the end incumbent Lincoln Diaz-Balart won a 9th term over challenger Raul Martinez.
Martinez says he knew it would be tough, and fighting all the controversy added to the campaign did not help.
"Those of you who have helped me knew it was going to be hard, and it was a tough journey," said Martinez.
He credited his defeat to the incumbent's $4 million plus campaign war chest, and an unrelenting campaign of negative attack ads.
He told
CBS4's Gary Nelson, "After three and a half months of people being told you are something you are not, it's not easy to overcome. It was a real pounding; I don't know how I'm still standing."
He calls for cleaner campaigns and unity.
"We need to stop the campaigning of destruction," he said.
Martinez, who campaigned on Democratic themes of education, job creation, universal healthcare and ending the war in Iraq said there was a silver lining in the election of Barack Obama as president.
"Maybe I didn't reach my goal, but with this new president there will be a better America."
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Campaign09
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
