Mario Diaz leaves WTSP-Ch. 10 to work for John McCain

He says it is a move he's always considered, balancing a childhood affinity for media with a love of politics.

But on Tuesday, former WTSP-Ch. 10 anchor Mario Diaz made his political jones official, leaving St. Petersburg's CBS affiliate to take a job as Southeast Regional Communications Director for Arizona GOP Senator John McCain's presidential bid.

"I've alway been attracted to challenge...and people have been telling me I should get into politics for a long time," said Diaz, who recalled speaking at a GOP panel featuring Hispanic journalists in May as a recent spark for the idea of transitioning to the political world. "It's a way to expand my career."

Of course, the move raises the question of when Diaz decided to leave journalism, and whether he was talking to McCain's people when he was interviewing political candidates as a news reporter for the station. Diaz said he talked to McCain's regional campaign manager after interviewing the candidate at his June 5 fundraiser at the Vinoy in St. Petersburg.

"I knew they had needs in the state of Florida, so why not take that opportunity?" he said. "When Barack Obama came to town (in May) I fought hard for those stories...(And) I asked the same questions an anybody else." 

The job offer came less than a week later, on June 11, he said. Diaz's last day at WTSP was Tuesday, and the former reporter said he filed no more political stories after informing the station's general manager on June 11 that he was taking the McCain job.

Diaz, 35, came to the Tampa Bay area in 2002 from Las Vegas, anchoring a revamped version of WTSP's afternoon news show. He moved to mornings in 2004 and then moved from anchoring to reporting for the channel's 11 p.m. newscast. But Diaz said he wasn't choosing politics because of any problems at WTSP, noting that the station had offered him a new, two-year contract right before the McCain job offer came.

"He only did two stories after telling us he was leaving, both very benign," said WTSP spokesman Pete Nikiel. "My understanding is that this came up very quickly."

In the new job, Diaz will deal with his former colleagues from the other side of the lens, though the transition is so sudden -- his orientation is scheduled next week -- he had few details. And he downplayed another possibility; the notion he might run for office someday.

"Whatever would be the best way for me to help the party," he said, sounding like a veteran operative already. "That's what I want to do."

Comments

[Peter]

Mario you can do well anywhere with so much talent.
We miss you.

[Rose Tozzi]

Congratulations Mario, follow your heart! I pray that all goes well for you. Thanks for the time you gave to the students of Dowdell Middle Magnet School. Never Quit, Never Give Up!

[martha colon]

oh mario how disapointed i'am; i wish you good luck just keep in mind how crooked the republicans are! bush was not voted in' he was forced in by his brother' wake up smell the coffee!

[Norma Diaz.]

Follow your dreams son.
Proud of you.

Mom and Dad.

[Eric Deggans]

I think it's time to exercise some civility, people.

Frankly, I'm tired of liberals and conservatives insulting each other. we face too many important problems as a nation to waste energy tearing each other down.

And I've always felt that, if you have to resort to insulting someone in an argument, it only proves how weak your position is in the first place...

[Tired of your nonsense]

To Anonymous responding to Whatever and the rest of your ignorant and uneducated liberals:

Clinton rode on the coat tails of Reagan who spent 8 years cleaning up your democratic predecessor Jimmy Carter's mess.

As far as the "war", go stand at Ground Zero. It was time to play defense you dumb aces.

If it's so g-damned awful, move to France or better yet, Cuba - you ungrateful sob's.

[Money]

If you were actually intelligent enough to run your own business - would you rather give me $1500 or $2800 of every $10,000 you made?

If you chose $2800, to have it your way, vote for Obama.

Funny how free-thinking, intelligent Republicans don't bash the short-sighted liberal Democrats that are always looking for a hand-out.

Want to tick off a liberal? Then, work hard and be happy.

Republican....NO

Democrat...NO

Free thinking AMERICAN with a functioning brain...YES

You pathetic bunch of sheep. They have you all right where they want you. You should be ashamed of yourselves. I beg of you, educate yourselves and find SOME kind of intelligence and integrity.

[Jim]

Wow, a conservative reporter. I wonder where he stands on the border issue??

[kitty]

That should have said: January 20, 2007, exactly one year, five months ago.

[kitty]

Um Missin' Hillary, the dems became the majority following the November 2006 elections. They didn't actually get to work until January 20, 2007, exactly one year, five months. But thanks for playing.

[Missin' Hillary]

We've had nearly 4 years to fix things (Congress), Dem party under Dean's leadership have only made it WORSE! Imagine what elitist Obama and Pelosi can do together under Dean's Gestapo boots!

VOTE MCCAIN, Go Mario!

[Chris]

As said before, this raises serious questions about the "interview" he did with McCain earlier. Journalistic integrity shot I would assume.

[jj]

OH Mario. We will miss you. Even more, we will miss your focus on everyday people with problems. John McCain does not interact with them, so I really don't understand why you would make such a move. Barach Obama is the best hope for working people.

[Russ]

So he'll have a job for 4 months. Congrats on that... lol.

[dionysis]

I miss Mario in the morning. They gave him the boot for the weave hair woman. Bad move. I have to go to Bay 9 for anything but silliness. But I always watch 10 for the weather. Marry me Anna?

[Mario Who?]

Don't know who Mario is now and am sure will not here about him tomorrow either. BTW 25:01 odds that McCain will LOSE.... as will most of the other republican candidates. Two reasons 1) IRAQ 2)ECONOMY.

[Splinter]

Congrats Mario! This is definately not career suicide. No matter who wins the election this will look great on your resume. 45% of the readers will hate your decision (Democrats) and 45% will love it (Republican), the other 10% I guess are undecided. In any case, Enjoy the position while it lasts.

[Jill]

The Republic Party is awful. . . .yeah, and the Dems are soooooo much better.

*rolls eyes* Spare me.

And Obama is the answer? The savior of America? Prepare to be really disappointed by this overhyped joke who's 75% celebrity and 25% politician.

[Ken]

If politicians (especially ones who are in bed with oil companies from his daddy's business days) don't influence the price of oil, then why would the price of oil drop every time there is a major election?

Hey, voxinator, if you read to much, why don't you learn to spell LIBRARY correctly

[voxinator]

i agree with your last sentence unless by that alternative you mean ethanol.

[voxinator]

mike creyton. Tell THAT story walking.

You ever hear of books?

They're those things at the liberries.

You know ... with pages.

Go read a bit, sir.

WHATEVER.

[Mike Creyton]

My post should say will NOT be impacted. The only chance oil prices may be impacted by political policy is if we open up drilling in the US in places like the gulf and Alaska and hope we can push up supply enough to lower the cost. But, if demand keeps rising around the world it won't matter. Alternative solutions are the answer.

[voxinator]

Wow. WHO KNEW? LMAO (see above commentary for the 'interview' of john mccain. LMAO> The john mccain hour by mario diaz.
WHO KNEW?
The tampa bay area (and st pete by area LOL) RIFE AND REPLETE with fake journalist and familial and propagandish control issues. Either married to each other or married to leo or the fire dept. hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
Then you know they are giving you the UNBIASED view because thatstherjob.

I'm going to become a republican. We've got so many republicans pretending they are democrats and stumping for the faux dem obama (oprah) that I feel I need to balance it out.
Sure hope I can fool folks in to thinking I'm a blood-thirsty, psychopathic party-line neocon with familial yearnings of political strangeness.

Hey then I would qualify for public office.

VOTE ME VOXINATOR COUNTY JUDGE AND MAYOR !!!! Oh and maybe I can be the prosecutor and public defender TOO.
Yeah, that's the ticket.
And, throw in the state's attorney and us attorney.

I'm there.

All I need is YOUR vote.

Or not.

I'll do what I want anyway.

LMAO !!

You go mario.

At least you're out of the closet so people can REALLY SEE what's what with the tampa bay and st pete bay (LOL) area.

[Mike Creyton]

If I see or hear one more ignorant person blame the president or any politician for that matter for the cost of a commodity....I am going to scream. Are people in this country really that uneducated that they believe politicians impact the cost of commodities? The only related impact at all comes from the Fed's dollar policy as most commodities are traded in against the US Dollar. Good lord people. No matter who the President is or what party is in office, the cost of copper, gold, pork bellies, crude oil or any other commodity will be impacted.

Who would have thought that America would ever see the day where we would allow same-sex marriages, abortion, and Muslim influences to ruin our country. We really are living in the End Times.

[Dave]

To the idiot who called Obama a Muslim, do you believe everything you read in emails?

I'm guessing you've spent a lot of money on Nigerians in the last few years too.

[Alex]

That's impossible. McCain is too liberal to be another Bush.

You will all be so sad if McCain wins this election and at his inauguration he slides off his thick rubbery mask and reveals himself as DUBYA!!!!! Oh the fools who voted BACK in.
oh wait, all the fools already voted for him TWICE!
Oh, the humanity! How do we all survive in this nation of sheep???

If you hate America, vote for McCain/Bush.

“I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ.” ~ Mahatma Gandhi

I wonder which Republican Gandhi was envisioning as he said this.

[Alex]

Obama will ruin this country. McCain will probably ruin it too, but just more slowly. Funny how so many people think Obama will fix things, and yet, the guy has zero experience. If you hate the US, vote Obama in 08.

Too bad the Dems do not control Congress. Oh wait, they do. Great job of getting things done and working together.

[Ken]

hey whatever: Jimmy Carter? Are you seriously comparing Jimmy Carter to Obama? Step into this century! Obama is going to mend the fences and bring the USA back to the top of the world.

And to the Anonymous person who asked what this country was founded on.. It was founded on freedom of Religion! You're obviously so sure of your convictions that you won't sign your name to that stupid statement.

I remember a segment that aired recent weeks with Diaz sitting face to face "interviewing" McCain in Tampa area. Diaz sure looked chummy with McCain and the interview hardly looked at arms length. Guess Diaz was already on McCain team.

Attention 1:56pm....

When you get those emails from Nigeria, do not (I repeat) Do Not send them your bank account number.

You just sound like someone who really needs to be told that! Best of luck in your daily life.

We will miss Mario. He is a likeable guy, I wish him the best, but cant help but wonder what on earth he's thinking :(

To Whatever:
No, the democrats will fix things like Bill Clinton did. Not Carter. You know, gas at a dollar a gallon, no national deficit, no war.

Oh yeah, the Repubs have REALLY done GREAT JOB. EXCELLENT WORK.
We are all SOOOOO PROUD of the state of the union since 2000. WAY TO GO IDIOTS!!!!

[Kim]

Great move Mario you did pick the right team. McCain is the better candidate Obama is all fluff pretending to be CHANGE..........he is a crooked as all the rest of the politicians. I am no way saying McCain is the perfect candidate but at least we know where he stands. Obama is a puppet from the old school Chicago crooked political system.......... who has yet to be truly vetted.

[Jason]

1:56 Get your facts straight. HE IS NOT MUSLIM!!! Last time I checked, our country was founded on religious freedom. In your case, only if it is the same as yours.

[Colleen]

God bless you, Mario! Follow your dreams...it's the best way to live a life without regrets.

What is this country coming too? We are going to elect a Muslim President. Is this what our country was founded on?

[whatever]

Yeah Jim... Let the Democrats fix everything... just like Jimmy Carter...right...

[Eric Deggans]

Because he had keopt his secret allegiance to these black leaders from the general public for 18 months now?

Please.

[John]

"Yeah, go Obama" Just wait until he has Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and Louis Farrakahn over for dinner.

[Nathan]

Where are the GOP trolls and Obama-haters? Oddly silent today. Is it possible that even the morons who dominate the metro-sewer that is Tampa Bay have grown weary of Republican rule? I won't hold my breath there....

[Jim]

Sorry, but a bad move Mario. The Republican party is awful and this administration has dropped things to an all time low. Republicans need to be forced out of office immediately and let the Democrats fix this horrible mess that Bush and his stubborn cronies caused. Go Obama!

[John]

Too bad Mario is backing the wrong horse. He is an OK newsman,and I believe what he's doing is career suicide.