Its endorsement of the Senate candidate amounts to a snub of McCollum, its choice in 2000.
By STEVE BOUSQUET
Published June 16, 2004
TALLAHASSEE - A leading national business group that supported former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum's last bid for the U.S. Senate is not backing him this time.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce endorsed former U.S. Housing Secretary Mel Martinez on Tuesday, citing the Republican's support for President Bush's economic agenda, including tax cuts and lawsuit reform. Chamber officials said they concluded Martinez has the best chance to win in November.
"We think McCollum had his best shot in 2000," said Bill Miller, political director of the chamber. "We all saw what happened against a very weak Democratic opponent in 2000."
McCollum, a 20-year member of Congress, captured 46.2 percent of the vote and lost to Bill Nelson on the same ballot that Bush won Florida and the presidency by 537 votes. He compiled one of the most consistent pro-business voting records in Congress.
For Martinez, 57, clinching the national chamber's support helps his effort to portray himself as a probusiness conservative and as the Republican with the most momentum.
Supporters say Martinez, despite entering the race late and lacking statewide name recognition, can galvanize a growing Hispanic voter base in Florida and help Bush's re-election campaign.
McCollum lost the business group's backing even though he favors stricter caps on lawsuit damages than does Martinez. The issue is a priority of the business community.
McCollum spokeswoman Shannon Gravitte called the decision "perplexing." She downplayed the power of endorsements and re-emphasized Martinez's work as leader of the Academy of Florida Trial Lawyers in the 1980s.
"If money and endorsements were the keys to securing the nomination, Howard Dean would be on the ticket this fall for the Democrats," Gravitte said. "The voters of Florida are not going to nominate the former No. 1 trial lawyer in the state to the U.S. Senate."
In Tampa, McCollum signed a petition in support of a $250,000 cap on lawyers' fees in malpractice cases, a constitutional amendment that doctors are trying to get on the Nov. 2 ballot. Doctors say limiting the percentage that lawyers collect would discourage frivolous suits.
"A lawsuit is supposed to compensate the injured party," not give 30 percent to 40 percent of the award to lawyers, McCollum said.
Martinez says a $250,000 cap is too low; hefavors a $500,000 cap.
With Martinez at the endorsement was Vern Buchanan, a Sarasota car dealer who is a chamber board member and Martinez's campaign finance chairman. Martinez flew to Tampa on a jet owned by Buchanan, who owns Sarasota Ford and 18 other dealerships in Florida, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Buchanan said he supported McCollum in the past, but this race is different.
"When you get to the general (election), it's about electability," Buchanan said.
Martinez served as Bush's housing secretary for three years and previously was the elected leader of Orange County government.
- Times staff writer Lisa Greene contributed to this report.
