GOP Lock on Cuban Exile Vote Challenged

[Mika]

GOP Lock on Cuban Exile Vote Challenged
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hr5xGpZl760Zs2IzC8l25DB5ougwD8VHQLVG0

MIAMI (AP) — For more than two decades, the Diaz-Balart brothers have represented South Florida, first in the Legislature and then in Congress, fighting to maintain the nation's hard-line stance toward Cuba.

The two come from a prestigious Cuban family with four generations in public service. Their father once frequented the exclusive American Club in Havana with his friend, then brother-in-law and later enemy, Fidel Castro.

In many ways, they have symbolized the face of Florida's Cuban-American exile community — Republican and ferociously anti-Castro — and have gone virtually unchallenged. Until now.

For the first time, Lincoln Diaz-Balart, 53, seeking a ninth term in the U.S. House, and his brother Mario, 46, seeking a fourth, face serious challenges from a different kind of Cuban-American, two Democrats from far less illustrious families.

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While the national Democratic party supports the challengers, Reps. Debbie Wasserman-Schultz and Kendrick Meek, D-Fla., have refused to actively campaign against the Diaz-Balarts.

Read more at ... http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hr5xGpZl760Zs2IzC8l25DB5ougwD8VHQLVG0

[Kolesar]

1. We had that in Ohio, where no politician would campaign against Cong.Latourette-R

He was on a powerful appropriations committee. Make that "pork barrel earmarks" committee