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U.S. Senate race ends with a snarl

Aggressiveness and attacks mark the U.S. Senate campaigns on the eve of primary voting.

After a sedate beginning, the U.S. Senate primary campaigns became dramatically more aggressive as they sprinted into today's election.

In the Republican primary, former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum and former housing secretary Mel Martinez traded accusations about dirty campaigning right up to the last minute Monday.

In the Democratic primary, former education commissioner Betty Castor courted African-American voters as U.S. Rep. Peter Deutsch of Hollywood barnstormed the state with the Rev. Jesse Jackson.

Florida voters today will find four Democrats and seven Republicans on the ballot seeking to replace retiring Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Graham.

For Republicans in particular, the challenge will be uniting behind their nominee after a primary that became particularly vitriolic in the final days. McCollum said Martinez's ads "appeal to hatred and bigotry," called him unfit to be a senator and avoided him when they showed up at the same time in Tampa.

McCollum, traveling with former U.S. Sen. Connie Mack, said the Martinez campaign sent mailings that distort his views on gay rights and other issues. He held up a St. Petersburg Times editorial Monday that rescinded the newspaper's recommendation of Martinez because of the attacks and recommended McCollum instead.

McCollum said Martinez wrongly implied that he opposes a constitutional ban on gay marriage and backed a "radical homosexual agenda."

"If Martinez is willing to lie about Bill McCollum, wouldn't he be willing to sell us all down the river to lobbyists and special interests like the trial lawyers?" said a telephone message to voters, paid for by a group called People for a Better Florida.

Martinez called McCollum's accusation of bigotry unfair.

"I think it's over the top," he said. "I don't think it's correct. I think it's a hysterical reaction to what the outcome is likely to be ... "

Martinez said he wasn't bothered that the Times rescinded its recommendation, calling the original "tepid at best." When he tried to talk about victory and unity, he was dogged by questions about his campaign tactics.

After a Tampa rally, Martinez faced a bank of TV cameras and said he and McCollum have a "basic difference about special laws and special rights for homosexuals."

He said he continued to be attacked by negative phone calls and radio ads, and said "it's time to put the acrimony behind us and just move forward as united Republicans to win in November."

After several more questions about negative tactics, Martinez walked away. "I'm done," he said.

Martinez wrapped up the primary campaign Monday night in Miami, where more than 200 Cuban-Americans showered him with ovations, hugs and kisses as he promised to be el primero Cubano, the first Cuban, in the U.S. Senate.

McCollum's criticisms were especially sharp on the last day before a primary election, in a race in which Republicans will need to brush off the hard feelings and work together if they hope to win the U.S Senate seat in November.

"It has the potential to have a negative impact on the general (election)," said state Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland. "Unless the two camps sit down and recognize the greater good, it could very well erupt into a problem for the Republicans."

Other Republicans said the party will unite. "It's the last 48 hours of a campaign and tempers always run high, but we'll be fine," said Mike Hightower, GOP chairman in Duval County.

The battle between the front-runners obscured the other Republican candidates, including Coral Gables businessman Doug Gallagher and House Speaker Johnnie Byrd of Plant City. The field includes attorneys Larry Klayman and Sonya March and William "Billy" Kogut, a real estate broker.

On the Democratic side, Castor and Deutsch campaigned in Jacksonville and courted black voters. Trailing far behind are Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas and Bernard Klein of Hollywood.

Deutsch began his day at 6:30 a.m. waving signs at an intersection in Boca Raton, then flew to Jacksonville, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale with Jackson, U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown of Jacksonville and rapper Fab Five Freddy. His campaign said he planned to campaign until 4 a.m. today.

Jackson returned Saturday from a humanitarian trip in the Sudan so he could campaign for Deutsch, who he met after the 2000 election.

"In 2000, when the election was stolen, most political officials ran from the fight," Jackson said. "Peter ran to it. I was amazed how many officials were silent. Peter was there."

Deutsch hammered again at his differences with Castor on abortion rights, universal health care and support for Israel. He says he has a stronger record on all three issues.

Monday was the third straight day Castor spent significant time courting black voters. She said Deutsch's efforts did not worry her. "I'm going to get the majority of the votes here from the African-American community," she said.

Although Castor leads in all polls, a St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald poll published Sunday found she has the backing of only about one-third of black Democrats, with the rest split among her rivals or still undecided. Blacks comprise about one in four of the 4-million registered Democrats in Florida.

Castor waved at Jacksonville drivers during morning rush hour, toured a senior center and shook hands at an entertainment complex during the lunch hour. While Deutsch campaigned nonstop, Castor stopped to teach a class at Florida Coastal School of Law, where many students aren't Florida voters, talked strategy with her pollster and made fundraising calls.

"It's looking pretty encouraging," she said at a fundraiser in Jacksonville. "I think as I get closer to tomorrow I'm feeling stronger than ever."

- Times staff writer Lucy Morgan and Chase Squires contributed to this report.