McCollum calls on GOP to denounce attack by Martinez

By Times Staff Writer
Published July 29, 2004

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Bill McCollum asked the state party Wednesday to admonish GOP rival Mel Martinez for attacking him.

"Mel Martinez and his campaign have attacked my character and my integrity in a manner that is quite simply deplorable," McCollum wrote to party chairwoman Carole Jean Jordan. "In responding to inquiries about his record, Mr. Martinez and his spokeswoman have repeatedly stated that I am working with Fidel Castro to defeat him."

McCollum cites three examples in which Martinez says McCollum, the Democrats and Fidel Castro are out to defeat him.

"To suggest that I am working in tandem with a Communist dictator is disgraceful and Mel Martinez should be ashamed of himself," McCollum said.

Jennifer Coxe, Martinez's spokeswoman, described the letter as a "silly campaign ploy."

"Mel Martinez is being attacked by Bill McCollum, the Democrats and Fidel Castro. Those are the facts," she said.

A day earlier, Republican Senate candidate Doug Gallagher criticized Martinez for using President Bush's image in a new TV ad. Gallagher filed a complaint with the Federal Elections Commission over potential election violations, and plans to file with the state ethics and elections commissions.