Best of Miami 2009 Preview: Best Political Comeback

Best Political ComebackThe Diaz-Balart brothersIt was right there in black-and-white, on the cover of your Miami New Times: "End of the Diaz-Balart Dynasty." Just weeks before election night, scores of polls showed both Mario and Lincoln -- Cuban-American icons and Miami's reps in Washington for years -- trailing their Democratic...

By New Times staff

June 9, 2009

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Best Political Comeback
The Diaz-Balart brothers

It was right there in black-and-white, on the cover of your Miami New Times: "End of the Diaz-Balart Dynasty." Just weeks before election night, scores of polls showed both Mario and Lincoln -- Cuban-American icons and Miami's reps in Washington for years -- trailing their Democratic challengers. Obama-mentum was sweeping the country, ripping Red State seats out from under longtime untouchables. Young Cuban-Americans, everyone said, were ready for a change and didn't feel tied to the Republican Party the way their parents did.

Then November 4 rolled around. Like Castro-hating, earmark-eating zombies, the Diaz-Balarts rose from the political graveyard and dominated the polls. Lincoln won 58-42 over former Hialeah Mayor Raul Martinez. Mario smacked down wonder boy Joe Garcia by four points. And the dynasty, for another two years, lives on.

Full list of winners June 10 via bestof.miaminewtimes.com, June 11 on newsstands.

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