The Barack Obama Administration sweepstakes have pundits and pols from coast to coast speculating like it’s March Madness. And while attention is focused on the top potential appointments at the State Department (likely to be Hillary Clinton), Justice Department (likely to be Eric Holder), and Health and Human Services (likely to be Tom Daschle), there are a few others who are slipping below the radar, but could very well be leading an executive office by January.

One of those is Miami Mayor Manny Diaz. The Republican-turned-Independent gave Obama a resounding endorsement in his widely-watched convention speech, and is rumored to be one of the President-elect’s top choices for his presidential team.

Diaz has gained widespread praise for his oversight of the largest city in the Sunshine State, which prior to his tenure had been teeming with crime and poverty, and was still struggling from the city’s booming drug trade during the 80s and 90s. But perhaps more importantly, Diaz has exhibited a style of urban management that has guided City Hall out of bankruptcy and built strong financial reserves. He flipped Miami’s junk bond status to an A+ Wall Street rating. His job performance led him to his current presidency of the United State Conference of Mayors.

Diaz’s masterful administrative overhaul of they city administration and his streamlining of government waste make him a perfect fit for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Particularly important among the next HUD chief’s tasks- firming up the FHA (Federal Housing Authority) in it’s stabilization of the mortgage market. Because much of the current financial meltdown has erupted from the mortgage crisis, the HUD Secretary may be one of the most important jobs in Obama’s Administration.

If Obama doesn’t extend an invitation to Diaz, he could be a top contender for the state’s 2010 Senate race. If he ran as a Democrat, he’d likely be very competitive with current GOP Senator Mel Martinez, whose approval numbers are sitting at a paltry 42%. He’s vulnerable, and the right Democratic candidate could send him packing.

Nonetheless, Florida is a tough state for Democrats. Despite winning the hotly contested swing state for the first time in years during the 2008 White House race, Republicans still control 15 of the 25 seats of Florida’s US Congressional delegation, a majority in the state Senate, a majority in the state House, the Governor’s mansion, the Lieutenant Governor’s office, the Attorney General’s Office, and the Agriculture Secretary’s office. In fact, Democrats control just two statewide offices: one seat in the US Senate, and the office of the Chief Financial Officer (a position similar to that of a controller of treasurer in other states).

But Diaz is the one shining exception to this rule of GOP dominance in the Sunshine State, and he very well might be the right Democratic candidate. He’s wildly popular, particularly among the state’s considerable Hispanic population, and is liked by moderate voters by virtue of his former membership in the Republican Party.