New Face, Old Connections

Miami mayoral candidate Manny Diaz may look like an outsider, but his political history places him squarely on the inside

A A A Comments By Ashley Fantz Thursday, Oct 25 2001

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Photos by Steve Satterwhite

On the road again: Diaz and a campaign volunteer map street strategy (top); the candidate puts to the test his reputation for listening (middle); a warm welcome from the ladies

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Lorenzo's prescience has offered little comfort. The proven efficacy of broadcast media has been upended. One thing, though, remains certain: His candidate must continue walking the neighborhoods, knocking on doors, visiting senior centers, and reminding voters who has endorsed him. (On October 8 he added the Miami gay-rights group SAVE Dade to his list.)

A recent Miami Herald/Univision poll provides hope. It showed that Diaz would be among the top three vote-getters on November 6. In a runoff against Carollo, Diaz would waltz to victory. "A lot of time was wasted talking about me in terms of the [earlier] Bendixen poll and how poorly I registered," Diaz says. "What a difference a few months make. People are listening to me, getting behind me. Ferré and Carollo can talk, talk, talk. But change is going to happen. I promise you."