Sen. Mel Martinez Tapped to Head National GOP

It's not official yet - but Sen. Mel Martinez is expected to assume the job of RNC Chairman when Ken Mehlman's two-year term ends in January.

Martinez will stay in the U.S. Senate, but take on the extra duties of fundraising, outreach and travel to promote the GOP agenda.

University of Central Florida Political Science Professor Aubrey Jewett calls the nomination of a Hispanic forward-looking.

JEWETT: Republicans got beat on election day. And they know that more of the same is not going to bring them back to power. And so they're looking ahead, they're saying they need to enlarge the base and bring in Hispanics.

In Florida, election results showed more support among Hispanics for Democratic candidates than Republican.