Posted on 08/12/2002 5:18:05 AM PDT by PogySailor
In Orlando, Reno looked past the primary as she spoke Spanish to a largely Hispanic crowd attending a picnic for Eddie Diaz, a Democratic congressional candidate from Orlando.
``We are able to win in November,'' the former U.S. attorney general said to the crowd of about 50 people.
In Tallahassee, McBride - Reno's leading opponent in the Democratic primary - prayed and cited the Bible in black churches.
``Protect us from being a country of private education for the rich and public education for the poor,'' McBride said during his brief comments at Bethel African Methodist Episcopal Church.
The Tampa attorney has been endorsed by the Florida Education Association, the state's teachers union.
He later told the congregation of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist Church, holding its worship service in a warm school auditorium, that grading public schools is wrong. School accountability is a centerpiece of Gov. Jeb Bush's education policies.
Reno's visit to the picnic and a stop scheduled for later in the day for mostly Hispanic farmworkers underscored the importance of Central Florida during the election and particularly its Hispanic community. Bush was planning to address the Hispanic Association of Christian Churches of Central Florida this morning.
Reno touted her prescription drug plan, which proposes using the purchasing power of state government to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors, and expounded on the need for smaller class sizes. Reno supports a proposed constitutional amendment to put limits on class sizes in Florida.
``We can have programs that provide opportunity, or we can have four more years of what we have - a lot of talk and no action,'' she said. ``What we're trying to do is reach out and leave no one behind.''
With a voter registration deadline looming today, Reno also urged the crowd to make sure they are signed up.
That message was also delivered by the Tallahassee preachers.
``We look forward to going to the polls and exercising our right to vote for the candidate of our choice,'' the Rev. John Green told the people in the pews at Bethel A.M.E.
The Rev. Stanley Walker Sr. of Tabernacle Missionary Baptist told his congregation they could make the difference.
``All we've got to do is get to the polls and vote,'' Walker said. ``You already know who to vote for and who not to vote for.''
Woohoo! Reno is really reaching the masses! Run, Janet, run...
mostly Hispanic farmworkers
¡Madre de Dios! Migrant workers voting early and often?
He is encouraging the parents and children to learn English. He has already embraced them so that they learn to read to get better opportunities. As everybody should know by now, Columba his wife is from Mexico and then there's George P. (swoon).
Janet can only promise them social programs - not a better future. And I prefer George P. to Elton John who is not a Floridian. I thought he was from Atlanta. FV
If he were truly popular he'd beat Reno 70 - 30. As we know the polls make it look like it'll be 55 - 45. Against Reno that'll be seen for the disappointment it is.
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