Reno Ready to Do Battle in Courts

Excite ^ | September 17, 2002 | RACHEL LA CORTE

[LurkedLongEnough]

(AP) Florida gubernatorial candidate Janet Reno dodges questions from reporters as she leaves her...

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) - As it becomes more doubtful that Janet Reno will challenge Jeb Bush in Florida's gubernatorial race, the former U.S. attorney general is ready to fight Bush on another front: the courts.

Reno campaign manager Mo Elleithee said Monday that his candidate plans on building a case saying Bush failed to reform the state's election system properly.

The Bush campaign has insisted that the problems were caused by election officials in Broward and Miami-Dade counties.

The case would not be used to challenge the results of the Democratic gubernatorial primary, Elleithee said. Results of the primary are expected to be officially certified on Wednesday. Florida election officials plan to announce the updated voting totals on Tuesday.

Tampa attorney Bill McBride emerged from last week's primary as the top vote-getter, but the race was marred by ballot glitches that brought back memories of the 2000 presidential election.

McBride's lead has since dropped from 8,196 to 5,685 votes. Campaign officials said the former attorney general picked up 2,511 votes in Miami-Dade County after ballots cast in 88 precincts were rechecked.

But with fewer than 600 votes expected to be found in Broward County, the only place where a significant number of new ballots might be located, it appeared unlikely that Reno could overtake McBride.

The only way Reno can win is if she picks up enough votes to pull ahead of McBride. A recount is not possible because McBride's original lead was a larger margin than the half-a-percentage point that was necessary to trigger a statewide recount by law.

"There has to be, at some point, finality. The Democrats have to know who their nominee is," said campaign lawyer Alan Greer, adding that Reno will not challenge the certified results in court if she loses.

(AP) Assistant Supervisor of Elections of Miami Dade County Gisela Salas, gestures while talking with... Full Image

Greer said Reno would make a statement after Miami-Dade County's canvassing board meets Tuesday afternoon.

"She will speak appropriately depending on what the results are," Greer said.

Meanwhile, McBride continued campaigning like an official nominee Monday. He said he will announce his choice for lieutenant governor either Wednesday or Thursday, after narrowing down a list of more than a dozen candidates.

McBride said he did not feel as if he lost time campaigning because of the primary election dispute.

"I feel confident that we're in good shape," he said.

[E. Pluribus Unum]

Go Janet Go! Make a complete laughingstock of yourself and the Flori-DUH DUMocRAT party! Go Go Go!

[MeekOneGOP]

[randita]

I hope Reno's attorneys will explain thoroughly why only 3 counties, out of 60-some in Florida had trouble with their election. And why it was the SAME 3 who couldn't figure out how to vote in 2000.

I can't wait to see Jeb's team subpoena all the poll workers who didn't show up on time and ask them where they were. I wonder what their explanation will be for not turning on the machines.

Jeb seems so calm about this issue--perhaps he has evidence that there was collusion to purposely screw up the elections and and use the screw up as a campaign issue.

[FreeTally]

perhaps he has evidence that there was collusion to purposely screw up the elections and and use the screw up as a campaign issue.

You might be on to something there.

[cajungirl]

Sue Janet Sue!!!! See Janet sue!!! I love this. Where in hell is Jessee? Where are Jessees boys?? Why isn't this a big dead. I love it,,watching dims shoot themselves is such a big treat.

[Hillary's Folly]

[Constitutional Patriot]

What a beautiful precedent the democratic party has left us with....

[robowombat]

On Public (sic) Radio some analyst was commenting that a suit by Reno in some way inditing the state government for the choas in the polling in the three SE Fl counties would be a big help to to the rats in the Nov election. The arrogant stupidity of such a suit aside how would this aid the rats. The goal of political campaigns is to energize voters to pull the lever for whoever. Rats statewide will rally to the rat candidate. Floridians outside the three se counties are generally disdainful of those jurisdictions and are not likely to see the primary problems as much more than the standard incapacity of those places to do anything right. How will such a suit work to draw significant numbers of voters who normally wouldn't vote or normally wouldn't vote for the rats to swing over. The bottom line here is that Rambo is so outraged at her ballot box humiliation she has to do something to assuage her fat ego. The rat establishment quickly threatened her into to not demanding a recount and persueing this option in the courts. As a consolation prize to this reprobate this lame and stupid lawsuit was suggested. Basically this is a device to get Rambo out of the way so the rats can put as much daylight between themselves and her as possible between now and election day.

[Centurion2000]

Go Janet Go! Make a complete laughingstock of yourself and the Flori-DUH DUMocRAT party! Go Go Go!

My thoughts exactly :)

[Movemout]

I don't know why Janet Reno is suing Jeb Bush over this debacle. He is clearly pulling for her to win in private.

As the dimocraps get whackier and whackier, even the "Greatest Generation" will get fed up with their antics and we all know what happens when you pi$$ them off.

[ZULU]

Don't underestimate Reno - she has lots of experience at the "bar".

[djpg]

Reno won't challenge McBride's victory because she doesn't want to upset the Democratic party. But it was OK for Gore to challenge Bush's victory and upset the country.

[Common Tator]

There seems to be two possibilities. One Janet will blame Bush and threaten to go after him but actually do nothing. In other words the threat to bring suit against Bush is just a face saving measure to cover her defeat.

The other is to accuse Bush and take him to court. In that case Bush would be forced to prove that the Democrats are crooks and cooked the election. The object of the poor training and lack of workers was to reduce the Vote that Janet got and to nominate McBride. A case by Janet could put a bunch of Democrats tied ot McBride and the main party in jail. Janet could feign surprise and express sadness that her action brough about the down fall of those that have stolen the election from her.

I suspect she will threaten but not do anything. She will fold her tent and trash Bush for a day... but then do nothing.

But I would love to see her use Bush to get some Democrats in big trouble.

[Paul Atreides]

Does that mean we should be ready to read about the courthouse being burned to ground, any day now?

[SteamshipTime]

Reno exhibits the same infernal tenacity as Gary Condit, leading me to believe she's a spendthrift with no job prospects.

Normally, a former Attorney General would be choosing among 50 top drawer law firms but burning women and infants alive and kidnapping a child for the Cuban government doesn't help you in the real world.

[VRWC_minion]

Wasn't Jeb Bush trying to get Reno nominated ?

[RISU]

Just GO, Janet,......GO!

[JulieRNR21]

FYI PING.....

[TLI]

Reno campaign manager Mo Elleithee said Monday that his candidate plans on building a case saying Bush failed to reform the state's election system properly.

I see the dimwits really are at the bottom of the barrel...