Added Nov. 5

Fla. prepares for 'must-win' gubernatorial race

By LARRY WHEELER
Gannett News Service

DAVIE, Fla. — Florida Gov. Jeb Bush wrapped up a three-day, cross-state bus tour here Sunday at an outdoor arena, home to the largest rodeo east of the Mississippi River.

That cowhand on stage with the governor was none other than hizzoner Rudolph Giuliani, the ex-mayor of New York City, the man Time magazine dubbed "Mayor of the World" and "Person of the Year."

"This is a time in which we all have to stand together and re-elect proven leaders," Giuliani said." You have in your governor, Jeb Bush, one of the best."

What a way to cap a campaign. Ahead in the polls, the sun setting gently in the west and Rudy, the leader who rallied the Big Apple after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, singing your praises.

No wonder Jeb Bush was smiling so broadly.

"It has been an incredible experience being your governor," Bush said. "The passion is still there."

With one day remaining before voting begins at Florida's troubled polling places, Bush wore the look of a survivor: happy, tired but still wary that something could go wrong as the game clock ticked down the final hours.

Bush's opponent, Democrat Bill McBride, spent Sunday hopscotching from a retiree community in South Florida to Orlando and back to Miami.

For Republicans and Democrats, Florida's gubernatorial race is their No. 1 "must win" contest in 2002.

Both sides poured money, people and their biggest celebrities into the Sunshine State.
Republicans want to affirm the Bush family political dynasty and give President George W. Bush momentum going into the 2004 presidential contest. Democrats want revenge for the 2000 voting debacle in Florida and to take the White House down a notch with a midterm upset.

President Bush, the governor's older brother, was in Tampa Saturday and told a raucous crowd of GOP faithful to "send Jeb back to Tallahassee."

Former President Bill Clinton and former Vice President Al Gore made their first appearances for McBride over the weekend.

Clinton wagged his index finger and warned blacks not to let "them" take away their vote a second time.

Gore appeared at black churches in Orlando and at Bethune-Cookman College, a historically black college in Daytona Beach, Fla.

In the seven weeks since McBride's primary win over former Attorney General Janet Reno, the Tampa lawyer and Gov. Bush have sparred over education policy, the economy and taxes in a campaign that has grown shrill and accusatory.

Bush appeared to gain the upper hand when he began hammering McBride for wanting to raise taxes to pay for a proposed state constitutional amendment to cap classroom size that is on Tuesday's ballot.

For McBride, ground zero is here in Democratic vote-rich South Florida where he needs a big win to offset Bush's advantage elsewhere in the state.

Six to eight points behind in the most recent public opinion polls and outspent at every step, McBride and his supporters remained optimistic the decorated Marine Corps Vietnam veteran would emerge victorious when the votes are counted.

But that's the rub. Will the votes get counted?

Bungled voting in Broward and Miami-Dade counties marred September's primary, resurrecting the specter of hanging chads, butterfly ballots and recounts that characterized Florida's 2000 presidential voting fiasco.

Reacting to intense political and public pressure, Broward and Miami-Dade counties took dramatic steps to ensure a better performance in Tuesday's general election.

"We're trying to not be the laughingstock of the United States," said Gwen Hankerson, 71, president of the Democratic Black Caucus of Broward County.

Despite the preparations, some fear the worst.

"There just isn't a lot of confidence in the voting equipment," said Barton James, Broward County Republican political director.

A lot of Florida voters will encounter the new video voting machines for the first time Tuesday while trying to wade through one of the longest ballots in recent memory.

Democrats are concerned delays will hurt turnout, the key to staying competitive with Bush.
"People are going to see lines around the corner and say, 'Forget it,'" said Amy Rose, 29, president of Broward County Young Democrats.

Anticipating continued voting problems, a small army of poll watchers has descended on the state. Both parties also have battalions of lawyers on standby to respond if needed.