I disagree. The Democratic leadership wanting to defeat Governor Bush to humiliate his big brother isn't the same as it being political consensus that Bush was going down to defeat. Terry McAuliffe (Oct 25, 2002): "Jeb is gone!". Believe me they thought Jeb was toast.
the party chairman wouldn't have exactly made comments saying the Republicans were going to have a victory. He also said the Democrats were going to pick up a Senate seat in Texas.