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Former Senator Mel Martinez on the importance of the Presidential-candidate’s speech and how it will impact the election.
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Thank you very much Mitt Romney tonight officially will accept the Republican nomination at the party's convention.
Tampa Florida and Florida that's the state Romney just -- to have.
If he wants to be the next president look at any of these numbers and -- former Florida senator Mel Martinez.
His with us now from Tampa -- -- see what your state senator.
What with a lot of hard work Florida's not -- -- stage obviously very very close but I tell -- in my in my gut tells me and if you -- the -- -- -- look at also tell me that this is very doable I think governor Romney can win Florida because there's a war there there's also violates a big media state big media's -- Yes will be big media -- towards the and -- -- the Obama up by campaign is meant a lot about the on the ground operation advantage over -- in Florida but traditionally it's been the big media that's one it.
At the end let me ask you about a specific issue.
This time around you look at debates there was some pretty harsh language used on the immigration issue.
Buy it at all the candidates but it including by governor Romney.
Will that work in the state of Florida -- -- expected he'll change it at all maybe even beginning tonight.
Well look I think that immigration is a secondary issue -- most Hispanics in Florida so I think that while it would be nice for the government to address that and maybe.
Touch on the issue I don't think that's what's in the uppermost in people's minds I think jobs when you have an unemployment rate approaching 9%.
And has been that way now for close to four years people are worried about the jobs of people worried about.
There health care on how they're gonna get along in life and -- -- the tremendous housing prices we've had here in Florida I mean prices have plummeted foreclosures are way up.
All of that so I think can.
In the state of Florida is about jobs is about how things like health care.
Those -- the predominant issues and don't forget in Florida a Puerto Ricans Cuban Americans -- the primary population right neither of which are particularly impact of immigration.
You know -- that is very -- -- that this sometimes it's unfair I think in politics how of voting blocks.
Get characterize that by the clinical Latino vote and an issue say those and for syllables or individual people but even more so they can be Cuban Americans that could be Puerto Rican Americans or that you breaks down much different in their interest so you're saying.
That Mitt Romney doesn't necessarily need to soften -- immigration stance because those people aren't so concerned about it made -- one group is -- not.
Well I would say that immigration is not the preeminent issue -- and I think that.
You know I think we can move beyond that by by connecting with the Hispanic voters on other issues that are really uppermost in their mind like jobs and so I think.
The -- -- Obama administration to create a better economy to create jobs to create opportunity in the forget most of the Hispanics in this state are immigrants like myself.
Who come here -- each -- their part of the American dream and when American -- seems out of reach you begin to wonder who we got the right leader in charge and I think that's pre eminently more important.
Than the issue of immigration one way or the other obviously tone matters.
-- governor Romney frankly as someone who can speak with a good tone.
And I think the same with Paul Ryan and I think that's an awful lot of other people here that are important in the state Jeb Bush.
Very beloved in the Hispanic community I myself represented the state -- the senate we have a state senator -- Marco Rubio I think Florida will ultimately be -- senate you know by the way.
It is a big deal in Florida I think who wins Florida perhaps defines who wins this election.
And I'm -- I am especially ground game and assault everything is important but if you had ground game vs yep big TV -- I'll take the TV buys.
Well I -- especially for the Republicans is not fair I mean there's probably -- capture the nomination for President Obama without Florida but is there one for.
For governor Romney.
I think -- gets pretty tough -- I mean I'm not you know I mean Karl Rove I would defer to on this issue but I got to tell you.
That electoral map looks pretty tough with -- Florida I mean is this a lot of electoral votes and you know I think the weight of the path to Florida is so spending time here being here governor Romney has been.
And -- -- no president has as well as so this is going to be.
Cliffhanger right to the end.
But -- encouraged by the fact that -- president has been outspending -- -- media here substantially over the last several weeks and frankly for the last sixty days that would change now on I think Romney will have the opportunity.
Perhaps -- spend the president in Florida.
That will make a difference -- goes.
Being outspent him to still be even that that -- portents pretty well aren't there's somebody knows the state of Florida -- pretty well himself senator Martinez thank you very much for coming up.
Good to be with.
