...until he realized he still has to beat Jeb...Reno was an easy victory compared to November...
By running ads against McBride, Bush gave him the boost he needed to win the primary. Normally, there'd be a run-off but this year (and only this year) the legislature, run by Bush (the Republican Party in Florida is run out of his office) ruled out a run-off. Bush figured he'd give Reno a leg up by keeping her out of a run-off she might lose. Instead, McBride won the primary and doesn't have to continue running for another two weeks against a Democrat for the nomination. Finally, Bush has been working to attract voters in Southeast Florida while taking North Florida and the Panhandle for granted. Against Reno that's a winning formula. Against McBride, however, it could prove disasterous. Bush's efforts in Southeastern Florida are, IMHO, illusory and carry a cost in North Florida and the Panhandle.