Jeb Bush Rivals Face Uphill Battle [WA Post: "we have a train wreck waiting to happen."]

The Washington Post ^ | Aug 24, 2002 | Ken Thomas

[summer]

Jeb Bush Rivals Face Uphill Battle

By Ken Thomas
Associated Press Writer
Saturday, August 24, 2002

MIAMI -- The 2002 governor's race was supposed to be payback time for Florida Democrats.

....

But in the waning days before the Sept. 10 [Dem] primary, the Democratic field offers uncertainty on how to challenge a well-heeled incumbent enjoying above-average approval ratings, who is trying to become the first Republican to earn re-election since Reconstruction.

"I think it's going to be a very, very, very hard job for Democrats to beat Jeb Bush," said Charles Whitehead, a former state Democratic party chairman.

....

"I think we've been put in a very difficult position in the state," said state Rep. Bob Henriquez, a Tampa Democrat. "Because the scenario most Democrats understand is that we have a train wreck waiting to happen in the Democratic primary."

....

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Note to FR -- Some new photos you may have missed:


Governor Bush speaks to crowd on the USS Kennedy upon
its return from deployment in the Middle East.


Gov Bush visits military personnel returning from Afghanistan.


Governor Bush shows off new t-shirt from the USS John F. Kennedy.


Lt. Governor Brogan visits with veterans at VFW Post in Jacksonville.


Lt Gov Borgan with vets.


Lt Gov Brogan at a GOP Rally in Nassau County, FL.


Gov Bush talks with FL elementary students.


Gov Bush lifts student for a 'helicopter ride' in the air.


Gov Bush receives a warm welcome from educators in Kissimmee, FL.

[summer]

I was reading a Dem web site the other day and the posters were debating the following question: "Should McLawyer concede now and help Reno defeat Jeb?"

Hey, clueless FL Dem Party, here's a clue for you: If your candidates had done their homework -- and actually bothered to come up with platforms on issues, and then debated EACH OTHER -- more FL voters may have been interested in this race. Meanwhile, Gov Bush has run a 1st rate campaign, stayed on topic, and connected with/and electrified voters everywhere he goes.

Someone should be writing up this FL race as textbook examples of: (a) how to effectively run in a governor's race (see all of Jeb's moves for Winner Example); and (b) how to ineffectively run in a governor's race (see all of Dem candidates' moves for Loser Example).

[summer]

For index.

[FairWitness]

If your candidates had done their homework -- and actually bothered to come up with platforms on issues, and then debated EACH OTHER

Are you saying that the Dem candidates have not yet debated each other? And if not, do they have any plans to do so? That seems to be missing an opportunity.

[Credo]

Reno can go back to the swamp.

[summer]

No, they have not debated each other at all yet. Reno has agreed to ONE debate with McLawyer. That's it. Even the political editor of the St. Pete Times wrote a column begging these Dem candidates to get with it, and start debating each other. But, these Dem candidates don't want to debate each other - they just want to stand together and say: "WE ALL HATE JEB." Little wonder they can not connect with FL voters, who are rushing out to see Gov Bush everywhere he goes, because he actually has something to say to voters.

[Aeronaut]

I wonder if Reno has written her concession speech yet.

[summer]

FYI; also check out new photos below article! :)

[FairWitness]

No, they have not debated each other at all yet.

I suppose one or both of them are afraid they might lose, but they surely are missing an opportunity for (free) exposure to the public.

[summer]

They missed EVERY opportunity by refusing to acknowledge the fact there IS a Dem Primary.

[summer]

PS Wait until after the Dem Primary, and you'll hear this refrain from flustered Dems: "It's all the fault of the GOP, for eliminating the run-off after the primary. This year we only had onoe primary -- and no subseqent run-off of the top two candidates. That's all because of dirty tricks by the GOP Legislature." Yet, FL voters I know, including Dems, say they are glad to have eliminated the cost and time associated with a run-off - how many primaries do we need? One is enough. (And, the Dem Party couldn't even prepare for that.)

[summer]

onoe primary = one primary

[summer]

FYI. :)

[jmaroneps37]

Notice how the rat media really has very little to say about the race. That's because there isn't much to say; and that's the beauty of the situation. The rats in chadville have a millstone around their neck and they are falling toward the sea. There is nothing anyone can do about it. They instituted the primary system now it has come back to bite them on the ash. The only thing they can do now is block the polls in South Florida, they must be able to get plenty of out of work thugs and ex cons that could do it. It's the only way that mclawyer can win. Even if he did win the primary, he doesn't do much better against Jeb anyway. We shall meet the evil donkey on the glorious field of combat and slay the beast!

[VRW Conspirator]

The Dems saw Florida through the 2000 election and thought that the apple was ripe for picking. Little did they realize that two years can make a world of difference. JEB is not sitting on his hands and is genuinely trying to clean up decades of Dem control of the state. If Reno wins the Dem primary, JEB can practically glide in to re-election.

[summer]

Even if he did win the primary, he doesn't do much better against Jeb anyway.

I have actually seen public polls where McLawyer would do worse than Reno against Gov. Bush. So, I agree with you -- it really doesn't matter who wins the Dem Primary. (But, that's because the Dems never ran a race. They mostly ran some hate speeches against Gov. Bush, a popular incumbant. And, that strategy didn't work.)

[summer]

JEB is not sitting on his hands

That's true. This governor has never sat on his hands. And, most FL voters know it. As a result, every once in awhile you get these articles in the media titled something like: "Dems can't figure out why nothing sticks to Jeb." That's because voters see him as way too busy to sit around doing nothing, like these Dem candidates seem to have been doing during this campaign season.

[randita]

The Dems saw Florida through the 2000 election and thought that the apple was ripe for picking. Little did they realize that two years can make a world of difference.

Remember all the rhetoric after the 2000 election from Democrats. They were going to beat Jeb by a landslide, they said. Then Reno waltzed into town--what just desserts for the crooked Democrats who tried to steal the 2000 election from W.

Now they're stuck with a loser, no matter how you slice it and very little chance of re-claiming the state in the 2004 election. W with the help of Jeb (and all the election laws and new machines that have been put into place) should easily take Florida in 2004.

This scenario came about because there was no Democrat leadership that really cared about the party as a whole. If there had been, you would have seen the Democrats rallying behind a candidate who could have REALLY challenged Jeb and who would have been in there gearing up the party for a big turn-out in 2004. But all you have is McAuliffe and Clinton for leaders, who care about nothing but themselves.

[PogySailor]

Summer, they can hardly debate each other on issues NEITHER one has a published positions. That's why the Bush/Brogan campaign commercials with the dancing feet have been so successful. Neither one has done anything but critize Jeb. "I'm not Jeb" is hardly a campaign theme for November.

[summer]

This scenario came about because there was no Democrat leadership that really cared about the party as a whole. If there had been, you would have seen the Democrats rallying behind a candidate who could have REALLY challenged Jeb and who would have been in there gearing up the party for a big turn-out in 2004. But all you have is McAuliffe and Clinton for leaders, who care about nothing but themselves.

I agree with your analysis here, randita.

The Dem Party's leaders appear way too self-absorbed to consider helping anyone but themselves. Yes, their mouths talk about others all the time, but in reality, you can see they do not really care.

BTW, I have often thought Gov Bush should release a book containing selected emails he has received from average FL voters and his responses. People would fall over in amazement at how much time he has spent while governor just listening to the average voter's concerns throughout his term. It is not surprising to me at all that people feel a connection to him. He works all the time at trying to help the lives of average citizens.

Why would anyone want to put into office the opposition party, which can not seem to remember voters actually exist -- unless it's an election year?

[summer]

Summer, they can hardly debate each other on issues NEITHER one has a published positions. That's why the Bush/Brogan campaign commercials with the dancing feet have been so successful. Neither one has done anything but critize Jeb. "I'm not Jeb" is hardly a campaign theme for November.

You're right, Pogy. They have not published positions on all the issues. But, we do have snippets in-between the "WE HATE JEB" mantra. And, it is AMAZING that this late in the campaign season, Reno has STILL not released a comprehensive plan for education reform, despite the fact education is the #1 issue on the minds of FL voters in EVERY poll. As for McLAwyer, the first time he opened his mouth to voters, here's what he said: "Yes, I will definately be raising taxes for you, the average FL voter." Well, a lot of people in FL live on fixed incomes because they are SENIORS. This is an anti-tax state in a big way.

So, one Dem candidate says (1) nothing on education; while (2) the other says: "Vote for me, and your taxes go up for sure."

Who the heck gives political advice to these people? I could do a better job. Any poster here on FR could do a better job than whatever political consultants these Dem candiates are listening to.