Election 2002: Bush becomes first GOP governor in Florida to earn re-election (AP)

AP ^ | Nov. 6, 2002 | BRENDAN FARRINGTON

[summer]

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, left, walks onto
the stage accompanied by his mother,
Barbara, and father former President George
Bush, after he had been reeelected to a
second term as governor Tuesday, during a
rally in Miami.

Election 2002: Bush becomes first GOP governor in Florida to earn re-election

Wednesday, November 6, 2002
By BRENDAN FARRINGTON, Associated Press

MIAMI — Republican Jeb Bush triumphed Tuesday to win a second term as Florida's governor, overcoming a strong challenge by Democrat Bill McBride and a concerted effort by his party to humble the president's brother.

With 90 percent of precincts reporting, Bush had 2,560,969 votes, or 57 percent, while McBride had 1,902,182 votes, or 42 percent. The victory made Bush the only Republican governor ever to capture re-election in Florida.

"It's done. We won. We did better than we thought," he said while watching returns from his hotel suite in downtown Miami. He was joined by his family, including his parents, former President Bush and former first lady Barbara Bush.

National party officials considered this marquee race pivotal. The victory by Bush bolsters the re-election bid of President Bush, while a loss would have been embarrassing to the president.

The race was under extraordinary scrutiny for another reason: State and county officials spent millions of dollars on new touchscreen voting machines put in after the 2000 presidential election marred by chads, recounts and court fights. Justice Department observers were posted at some polls, as were specialists in watching Third World elections.

Several figures from the 2000 debacle were running for House seats Tuesday, including GOP darling Katherine Harris, the former secretary of state at the center of the recount debate. Harris defeated political novice Jan Schneider in the heavily Republican 13th District.

But the governor's race was the key matchup.

Bush, 49, held a massive fund-raising advantage, and he stressed his work to bring accountability to public schools, reduce taxes and foster a pro-business climate.

McBride, 57, a Tampa lawyer and first-time candidate, upset former Attorney General Janet Reno in the primary and challenged Bush on education. He called for increasing teacher pay, smaller classes and reducing the state's emphasis on grading schools and use of standardized tests.

In his concession speech, McBride said his campaign had placed a spotlight on the importance of public education.

"We've moved the agenda into, I think, the right place in large measure because of your efforts," McBride said. Democrats touted McBride's military service — he was awarded a Bronze Star in Vietnam — and hoped it would appeal to many of Florida's 1.7 million veterans. However, McBride had to scramble to address black and elderly voters after concentrating elsewhere before the primary. And criticism of Bush over the state's troubled child welfare agency didn't seem to stick. Bush is only the third Republican elected Florida governor since the 1870s — Claude Kirk in 1966 and Bob Martinez in 1986 were the others and both lost re-election bids. Florida governors were prohibited from serving two terms before 1968.

Joining Harris as a winner with ties to the 2000 recount was Florida House Speaker Tom Feeney, who captured the seat in a new Congressional district over Democrat Harry Jacobs. Feeney pushed to name electors before the recount legal battle was over.

Democrat Carol Roberts, a member of the Palm Beach County canvassing board, was defeated in her Congressional race incumbent Republican Clay Shaw. Roberts had helped count infamous "butterfly" ballots in the 2000 election.

[E=MC²]

Finally - I loved hearing Jeb Bush thank GOD for his victory - first thing!

Me too!

[lonestar]

Congratulations on YOUR victory! We appreciate your untiring help for JEB.

TAKE ME OFF YOUR PING LIST!!! LOL...(Kidding)

[Man of the Right]

The Bush victory is a tribute to a good candidate running on his record, hard work, and adequate funding.

I hope Republicans in other parts of the country will memorize and practice the Bush formula:

Focus on several key objectives and stay resolutely on message -- protecting the American people, keeping the state open for business through low taxes, and channeling public funds to raising education standards and limiting the cost of prescription drugs to seniors.

Protect your Anglo male base, but focus on eliminating the Democrat lead among Anglo women and Hispanics. Take the trouble to learn Spanish and feel comfortable around Hispanics. They are potential Republican voters, not the Yellow Peril.

Do your best to eliminate race-baiting by being scrupulously fair to Blacks. Reach out to the remarkable people in the Black community who reject dependence on the government.

Run paranoid at all times.

[Man of the Right]

The Bush victory is a tribute to a good candidate running on his record, hard work, and adequate funding.

I hope Republicans in other parts of the country will memorize and practice the Bush formula:

Focus on several key objectives and stay resolutely on message -- protecting the American people, keeping the state open for business through low taxes, and channeling public funds to raising education standards and limiting the cost of prescription drugs to seniors.

Protect your Anglo male base, but focus on eliminating the Democrat lead among Anglo women and Hispanics. Take the trouble to learn Spanish and feel comfortable around Hispanics. They are potential Republican voters, not the Yellow Peril.

Do your best to eliminate race-baiting by being scrupulously fair to Blacks. Reach out to the remarkable people in the Black community who reject dependence on the government.

Run paranoid at all times.

[FreeTally]

Can you tell me the reason for the huge victory - despite the pretense of a "close" race????

Well, I do not mean this in a "I told you so" manner, and I am not psychic either, but from the day it was announced that McBride and Reno would be the two opponents, I said Jeb would win by a pretty unusually wide margin. I never believed any of the polls that said McBride was close, or ahead.

IMO, there are a few reasons why it was so big. First, GW's approval rating is high, and that helped him trmendously. Second, I think the average joe in America is sick of democrats obstructing GW, so that played over into local races as well. Thirdly, there was really no burning campaign issue here in Florida. Education was maybe the biggest, but that's no surprise considering the power of the teacher's unions. There are no big state-wide problems here(some local ones) to point at and say, "See its Jeb;s fault; get rid of him". The State workers wanted him out, but fortunately the Dems on the State teet don't have enough voice apparently. And lastly, the Dems put up a horrible candidate. How do you expect a person who has never held public office to win the Governorship his first try? Simply wasn't going to happen.

[summer]

There are no big state-wide problems here(some local ones) to point at and say, "See its Jeb;s fault; get rid of him".

I really agree with you here - things in FL are pretty good for the majority of people. So, why a candidate would run a campaign based on a lie: "EVERYTHING IN FL IS IN A CRISIS" is beyond me. Had the Dems put some time and effort into coming up with a real platform and new ideas, they might have had a shot with McMumble (had McMumble also learned how to speak and campaign).

[Dixie Mom]

Summer, thank YOU for your tireless efforts to keep us all informed. You were a one-woman powerhouse in your support for our Governor. Jeb is darn lucky to have you on his team (even if unofficially). :)

KUDOS TO SUMMER!

[FreeTally]

I really agree with you here - things in FL are pretty good for the majority of people. So, why a candidate would run a campaign based on a lie: "EVERYTHING IN FL IS IN A CRISIS" is beyond me.

Yep, thats exactly the way they campaigned, and I thin most honest, rational people saw through it.

Here in Leon County, we had a referendum vote for another 1/2 cent sales tax hike that was specifically for "local education". They actually ran adds that had, of many people, a younger black girl saying, "If we don't pass this, the quality of our schools will surely decline". The suckers here passed it. I feel like writing a letter to the local paper saying I'm buying everything possible on-line, will shop for groceries in neighboring counties and will never purchase an automobile in the county.

Another thing we may want to consider is that given the historical Democrat voter fraud in Florida, and that it surely has not been stamped out, Jeb may have actually won by a wider margin - just like in 2000, GW probably really won by 2% or so, not a few thousand votes.

[Joy Angela]

Thanks for putting me on your ping list. Your energy was contagious! I am so impressed with the Bush Family!

Please keep your ping list ready for 2004!

Onward!!

[summer]

Another thing we may want to consider is that given the historical Democrat voter fraud in Florida, and that it surely has not been stamped out, Jeb may have actually won by a wider margin - just like in 2000, GW probably really won by 2% or so, not a few thousand votes.

I was thinking about this point, too. One of the best things that happened in FL's Election 2002 was the voting reforms, the new machines -- and all the eyes watching the polls.

I believe some votyer fraud was wiped out. And, had this fraud been wiped out back in 2000, GW might have won FL by a whole lot more votes, and Gov Bush would have won in 1994's FL gov race. So, very important to stamp out voter fraud, as it seems to result in a much wider margin of win for the candidate who IS the winner.

[summer]

Dixie Mom, Thank you for the lovely flowers! I am very touched by your kind words here. :)!

PS To all, I will write back to each person on this thread when I have more time, as right now, I really have to run! :)

[Cicero]

Summer, congratulations. FreeRepublic didn't win this big single-handed, but your efforts contributed greatly.

The good guys won and the bad guys lost. I especially chuckled over this bit from AP:

"Several figures from the 2000 debacle were running for House seats Tuesday, including GOP darling Katherine Harris, the former secretary of state at the center of the recount debate. Harris defeated political novice Jan Schneider in the heavily Republican 13th District."

AP writer Brendan Farrington couldn't have been more snide short of criticizing her makeup and clothes at the victory celebration. Eat your heart out, Brendan!

[Prov1322]

Summer, thank YOU for all your hard work.

It's always great to be a Floridian but today it's just extraordinary to be a Floridian in Central Florida.

Did anyone else mention that attorneys Jacobs and Hogan had their (remaining) assets handed to them in the Congressional races?

[Ragtime Cowgirl]

Also -- thank you all for allowing me to participate to the extent I did here on FR. This was the first time I ever became involved in politics on any level. And, what an education I received here! All thanks to each of you. Thanks again. :)

Coach, you encouraged, informed, organized, graciously worked to win over doubters - in short - you were the heart and soul behind the Florida Freeper army this year. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to serve on your team, summer. Keep that ping list, please!

[Jorge]

PS Your favorite Dem from Nov 2000, Carol Roberts, lost her race.

You mean the "I'll go to jail!" to keep poking chads out of ballots for Gore...that Carol Roberts?
I'm heart-broken.

[floriduh voter]

I JUST LOVE MAKIN' HISTORY. In addition to all our FR pings and bumps, voter turnout was the message from the RNC and we waved at intersections with our Republican signs. At some point, I think undecideds have thought that "if they're (joe brower,juliernr21) willing to stand at this intersection in THE FLORIDA SUN for GOVERNOR BUSH, he must be some great governor."

[floriduh voter]

Summer, if you go to Bay News 9's web site, they have a breakdown of all Florida counties. I don't have the url handy.

[floriduh voter]

Yes, Jeb thanked Almighty God. That's just one reason why I voted for him. He's a good man who's not egocentric.

[Joe Brower]

Glad to see you're up and about, FV. Hope that cold isn't slowing you down too much!

Yes, making history is great, and keeping the adults in charge and furthering the cause of freedom even better. We'll be doing this again before we know it, eh? As for setting an example, perhaps, but I tend to just do what I know needs to be done and if others want to join in so much the better. Leading by example, and all that.

Now my main task is to drive around town and fetch all those yard signs I spread all over the place. Maybe I'll sell 'em on EBay... $;-)

[Goldwater Girl]

Summer-
Like so many FReepers, I have been inspired by your example this election. I have learned a great lesson from your patient, courteous dealings with folks who disagree with your points, and am positive you turned many people around.

PLEASE don't disappear for 2 years- you are a valued and respected FReeper- and we look forward to your next mission.
Thank you for your outstanding advocacy!
GG