Cuban-American titans face to face - Race for the 21st congressional district in Florida pits incumbent Rep. Lincoln Díaz-Balart, 53, against former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez, 58, two guys who neither like nor respect each other.

The nasty campaign rhetoric began to bubble up even before Martinez formally announced his candidacy a week ago — with several well-aimed jabs at Díaz-Balart. The day before, while campaigning for John McCain, Díaz Balart called Martinez a guy with a bad rep and a potty mouth to boot. ”His record is not only of corruption,” Díaz-Balart fumed (one of his two preferred rhetorical modes; the other is indignant), ”but also vulgarity.” Martinez vulgar? No me diga. That charge, however, doesn’t wash in Hialeah where a mayor who gets pot-holes fixed can talk any darned way he pleases.

The 21st congressional district, which runs from far Southwest Broward down through West Miami-Dade, is solidly middle-class, mostly Republican and about 70 percent Hispanic. There are about 20,000 more registered Republicans than Democrats, but also a growing number of independents. Díaz-Balart has represented the district, in one shape or another, since 1992 and by most lights done a pretty good job. In recent years he has faced only write-in candidates whom he has trounced.”*

*From: http://www.miamiherald.com
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