Presidential couple (dad and mom) hit trail for Jeb [NEWEST POLL RESULTS: JEB WIDENS HIS LEAD]

The Orlando Sentinel ^ | Oct. 19, 2002 | Mark Silva

[summer]

ELECTION 2002 Presidential couple (dad and mom) hit trail for Jeb

By Mark Silva | Sentinel Political Editor
Posted October 19, 2002

...Although various polls have suggested that the governor's race is close, a new survey showing Bush with a 9-point lead over McBride gave cheer to the Republicans on Friday.

The poll by McLaughlin & Associates of Alexandria, Va., done for U.S. Sugar Corp., shows Bush with 49.2 percent to McBride's 40.5 percent, with the remainder undecided. The margin of error was 4 percent. Six hundred people were surveyed by phone Wednesday and Thursday this week.

Jim McLaughlin, the pollster, said Bush was running solidly ahead in all parts of the state except South Florida. The results contrast with a Zogby International poll from last week, showing a three-point lead for the governor....

[coloradomom]

Gov. Bush seems to have handled his daughter's addiction problem with great dignity and sensitivity. How could voters not empathize with him on this issue. I can only imagine the pain that he and his wife must feel.

[summer]

FYI -- Governor Jeb Bush and First Lady Columba Bush to Receive the "Family of Courage" Award

Excerpt:

Friday, May 24, 2002

Governor Jeb Bush and First Lady Columba Bush will receive the "Family of Courage" Award at the 11th Annual Mothers In Crisis Anniversary Celebration this evening in Tallahassee.

The Governor and First Lady are being recognized for their continued support of the prevention of substance abuse. Established by Governor Bush, the Florida Office of Drug Control is charged with implementing the Governor's Drug Control Strategy and developing objective measures of success to ensure progress is made across the spectrum of drug control efforts. The Governor's Drug Control Strategy incorporates all aspects of solving the drug problem, including effective education, prevention, treatment and law enforcement.

In addition to the Governor's efforts, the First Lady focuses her efforts on reducing drug use among Florida's youth. As the state's leading spokesperson for prevention of youth substance abuse, Mrs. Bush, along with Director Jim McDonough, Florida Office of Drug Control, visits schools throughout the state each month to speak with youth about the dangers related to alcohol and substance abuse.

[nicmarlo]

Greene was making terrible decisions especially in the latter part of his campaign

Yep. Although we Repubs don't have a problem with knowing how to vote, our candidates and elected officials oftentimes have problems with communicating strongly or backbones (I am thinking here of Lott). Perhaps these weaknesses are because Republicans' have higher morals, generally speaking (IMHO): our minds are less criminal, less sneaky, less adept at lying and twisting the truth.

[coloradomom]

How nice to see Governor and Mrs. Bush receiving recognition for their work on drug abuse prevention!

[Stormyta]

Forgot to add that Barbara and George Bush will be in Lee County on Monday ----we have a lot of good Republicans to visit with them. Too bad they aren't hitting the Democrat Counties instead. He is a sure winner here.

[Stormyta]

Forgot to add that Barbara and George Bush will be in Lee County on Monday ----we have a lot of good Republicans to visit with them. Too bad they aren't hitting the Democrat Counties instead. He is a sure winner here.

[summer]

Note -- Greene was the Dem candidate making those terrible decisions. :)

McMumble, BTW, is also running a lousy campaign, IMO, and I am truly am an independent voter. McMumble has said and done nothing to make me want to vote for him for governor. Other independents I know are just as turned off. They are not impressed with Clinton fundraisers and the Dem machine throwing bucks at FL.

As for undecided FL voters, the thought McMumble may raise taxes all over the place, and institute a state income tax, is probably just beginning to sink into some undecided voters.

[coloradomom]

I think you are correct. Republicans are often rhetorically challenged. Jeb Bush, however, is not. I appreciate so much his eloquence and his principled stands on the issues. I liked it when he told the voters in the first debate that they might not always agree with him, but they know where he stands.

[summer]

I meant: As for undecided FL voters, the thought McMumble may raise taxes all over the place, and institute a state income tax, is probably just beginning to sink into them.

[summer]

I think also Gov Bush scores points with voters because his approach IS a bit different than "we'll all sit around a table and talk about it forever." McMumble's "promise" to do this on every issue tells me he plans to never make a decision on anything. I appreciate that Gov Bush has a position, but also gets input from voters and others, and THEN ACTS. Florida is not a state where people can sit around forever. Hurricanes come, disasters strike, a leader needs to lead. Gov Bush has done that time and again, and voters see that quality in him, IMO.

[RBurke]

I agree with you Summer. The media in Florida is so biased for liberals, it makes the rest of the country think Bush is having a hard time--which isnt true as far as I can see. Im a Florida voter and the majority of people I know will vote Bush back in. Even Dems are thinking twice this time around. They are embarrassed over the past voting machine debacles and they approve overwhelmingly of the job his brother is doing with the fight against terrorism. Jeb Bush does an excellant job.

I personally credit him for being the reason that I finished college this year. I emailed him after becoming aware of a funding problem with a program I was in. He answered me the same evening AND made sure the funds were put into place the NEXT DAY to save that program. Hes a huge winner in my book!

Not all of us live in FloriDUH, some of us actually live in the Sunshine State!

[coloradomom]

I get the impression that Gov Bush is not just a principled leader, but a stellar human being. Go Jeb!

[spectre]

Black Tampa GOP Club...I can't get enough of that picture you posted!

sw

[summer]

Even Dems are thinking twice this time around. They are embarrassed over the past voting machine debacles and they approve overwhelmingly of the job his brother is doing with the fight against terrorism. Jeb Bush does an excellant job.

I agree - many Dems I know like him for being an effective and efficient leader. His post 9-11 decisions count for a lot too.

I personally credit him for being the reason that I finished college this year. I emailed him after becoming aware of a funding problem with a program I was in. He answered me the same evening AND made sure the funds were put into place the NEXT DAY to save that program. He's a huge winner in my book!

I have had this same type of experience with Gov Bush, and several times. I wrote about it here on FR - click on my screen name and read my editorial series, "The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows" (Parts 1-5 re my educational experiences as a FL teacher).

[summer]

I bbelieve FL voters also trust Gov Bush to NOT raise taxes. But, I think raising taxes, again and again, is the ONE decision McMumble WOULD make. And, I don't want that.

[summer]

bbelieve = believe

[summer]

Gov Bush has more black support, due to education issues, then the media usually lets on. But, check out THIS ARTICLE.

[ItisaReligionofPeace]

solidly ahead in all parts of the state except South Florida

Also known as New York and New Jersey residents.

[nicmarlo]

Too bad they aren't hitting the Democrat Counties instead

It would be a waste of time. I took a mass media class in college. I also took upper level psychology classes in college. Different colleges, much different years. Long and short of it: people tune out others who they perceive different, do not give credence to what they say, only hear what they choose to hear, and, whatever is different, it is blended into what their pre-conceived ideas already are (this is the case with EVERYBODY, including Republicans). It think the only way to change a person over to your views, is one-on-one, by example or discussions.

If you haven't read, Fighting Back by Bill Sammon, I highly suggest you do. You'll love it and it shows how effective Bush is winning people over, when they finally talk to him, see him, one-on-one. And this occurred when he was in Florida, the day of 9/11, visiting one of the schools there, a devout Rat apparently changed her opinion, completely reversed, on Bush, by witnessing, first-hand, his sincerity and concern for the children there, the staff there, the American people, not himself.

[summer]

BTW, many FL voters have great reports of their interaction with Gov Bush - and they are starting to tell about it HERE. You can too! :)