News of the draft movement has spread to two very diverse publications today.
First up was the El Nuevo Herald.
Era sólo un rumor días atrás. No era oficial ayer, pero sí más tangible: el partido demócrata reveló que ”grupos de ciudadanos” han abierto dos páginas en internet para promover las candidaturas al Congreso federal de dos miembros de la política local: el ex alcalde de Hialeah Raúl Martínez y el ex director ejecutivo de la Fundación Nacional Cubano Americana Joe García.
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”Me parece que todo esto que está pasando es extraordinario. Por un tiempo hemos sido testigos de un rumor que ahora está tomando forma. Estamos recibiendo centenares de llamadas de gente pidiendo cómo contactar las candidaturas, y eso que todavía no existen. Y ahora surgieron esas dos páginas”, dijo John Hornbuckle, director ejecutivo del Partido Demócrata en Miami-Dade.
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García, por su parte, dijo también que aún no ha tomado una decisión, en parte porque está sopesando pedidos de ”muchas” personas, pero también necesita el consejo de su esposa e hija, quienes “todavía no me han dado su apoyo”.
”Sé que el pueblo quiere cambios y uno de los escaños más débiles del sur de la Florida es el de Mario Díaz-Balart. Pero es prematuro tomar una decisión”, añadió.
To give a brief translation of some of that, Raul Martinez and Joe Garcia both appreciate the efforts of this movement and are considering the races. Joe, for his part, is discussing the possibility of running with his family. The Miami-Dade Democratic Party DEC, meanwhile, has been receiving many phone calls with excitement for the potential candidacies of Raul and Joe.
Oh yeah and the Diaz-Balarts: No comment
Meanwhile, in another land on the other side of the internets, Markos Moulitsas, from the dailykos posts on the potential 25th district race:
It’s hard to underestimate just how much discontent the travel restrictions have generated within the Cuban American community. For example, my father-in-law, restricted from visiting his Cuban family regularly, has become a surprisingly reliable Democratic vote. For a people who place family above all else, being told they can’t visit them is a gross insult, and all for an embargo widely seen (outside of hardline circles) as an abject failure.
It is the ultimate “family values” issue, and Garcia is dead on regarding the issue’s salience and its potential to dramatically reshape the southern Florida political landscape. Republicans, as usual, are letting their ideology once again lead them outside the mainstream.
As for Garcia himself, his candidacy is getting people excited and talking (here, here, and here, among others), and I suspect he’ll be in before long.
Think about this: It has only been one week since we launched this movement and we’ve already built this much excitement. It’s amazing what a little effort can do to build real grassroots excitement. I bet the Republicans are wishing they had something like this.