By Brian E. Crowley, Palm Beach Post Staff Writer
Friday, July 19, 2002
Ja Rule, Busta Rhymes and Ashanti bring the hip to the hip hop at Level -- one of South Beach's hottest clubs -- but it's Janet Reno who club owners say will pack the house tonight.
"Tickets are selling like hotcakes," said a nearly breathless Gerry Kelly, former fashion designer turned club owner and host of tonight's "Janet Reno's Dance Party."
More than 2,000 partygoers, including a few of Republican Gov. Jeb Bush's campaign staff, are expected to show up and watch Reno hit the dance floor.
"I came up with the idea about a month ago and contacted Reno's campaign," said Kelly, who hinted that Reno might not be the only celebrity in the room tonight. "I don't want to promise anything but I think it will be a very exciting night."
Already there is a "media frenzy," Kelly said. "We get a lot of local press and some national press but this is becoming one of the most highly covered events I've ever had."
Network TV, foreign reporters, even a Denver radio station are showing up for Reno's party. One big question is whether she will wear the blue dress made famous by Saturday Night Live actor Will Ferrell, who dressed like Reno for an ongoing skit called "Janet Reno's Dance Party." [well you know you're a lesbian when people wonder this sorta thing]
"We just have to wait and see what she does," Reno spokeswoman Nicole Harburger said. "We think the whole night is going to be a lot of fun and give Janet a chance to bring some young people into the political process."
Tickets cost $25 with the money going to Reno's campaign. Reno is being challenged for the Democratic nomination by Tampa attorney Bill McBride and state Sen. Daryl Jones of Miami.
brian_crowley@pbpost.com
Since it's such a hot ticket they're wishing they had charged more. hehehe
Some Democrats fear Janet Reno will lead them to defeat in November
MIAMI - Janet Reno ( news - web sites) is the clear favorite among rank-and-file Democrats in her run for governor of Florida, but some party strategists fear she will only lead them to defeat in November.
Some Democrats worry that her high negative ratings and her weak fund-raising may foil their grand plan: ousting Republican Gov. Jeb Bush and getting revenge against his brother in the state where the 2000 race for the White House was decided.
Less than two months before the primary, Democrats face a dilemma: Should they choose Reno, who is the darling of South Florida's condos and Democratic clubs but is disliked in more conservative parts of the state? Or should they go with Bill McBride, a first-time candidate with war hero credentials but little name recognition?
Recent polls show McBride narrowing the gap but still trailing Reno by more than 20 points for the nomination. Still, Reno's unfavorable ratings top 40 percent in some polls, in part because of some of the decisions that marked her eight years as President Clinton ( news - web sites)'s attorney general — namely, the move to seize Elian Gonzalez and send him back to Cuba.(Read the rest on link)
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Sounds like the Rats must decide on Reno or McBride.
Money goes to the Reno campaign? But what has she done for the global AIDS problem? and Haiti?