ORLANDO, Fla. -- Florida Sen. Mel Martinez compared Sen. Barack Obama’s economic policies to those of Communist Cuba’s Saturday during an Orlando rally for Sen. John McCain, hosted by big name Florida Republicans.

"Where I come from, where I was raised, they tried wealth redistribution,” Martinez said. “We don't need that here, that's called Socialism, Communism, not Americanism.”

The Sunshine State is seen as a must-win for McCain. The Republican candidate is trailing Obama in most statewide polls, but the most recent conducted Oct. 16 by SurveyUSA shows McCain slightly ahead by a 49 to 47 percent margin. Florida Gov. Charlie Crist is hoping that trend will continue.

"Who do you want to guide the ship? Who do you want in front? Who do you want as your leader? John McCain!" Crist shouted, while warming up the crowd gathered for the rally at the Rosen Shingle Creek Resort.

Florida Congressman Ric Keller and former Presidential Hopeful Fred Thompson also spoke.

Both Obama and McCain have made Central Florida a priority as the Nov. 4 election day looms closer. McCain held a rally in Brevard County Friday, and Obama will campaign with his former rival Sen. Hillary Clinton outside Orlando’s Amway arena at 6 p.m. Monday, the same day polls open for early voting in Florida.