Independents count with both parties [In FL, independent voters will choose the next governor]

The Orlando Sentinel ^ | Oct. 13, 2002 | JOhn KEnnedy

[summer]

POLITICAL PULSE

Independents count with both parties

By John Kennedy | The Orlando Sentinel
Posted October 13, 2002

Al Cardenas, Florida Republican Party chairman, gathered reporters together last week .....

"In Florida, it's a swing state. You put a generic Democrat on the ballot in a statewide race, and they get 40 percent. You put a generic Republican on, and they get 40 percent," Cardenas said.

That leaves the remaining 20 percent up for grabs. ...

"Double-digit leads are a practical impossibility in Florida, unless the candidate is a total flop and has no resources," Cardenas concluded.

...Democrats continue to hold an edge in voter registration, with 43 percent to the GOP's 39 percent.

But the 18 percent of voters who declare themselves independent or allied with third parties is double what it was a mere eight years ago. And that has changed the election dynamics. It also makes both Democrats and Republicans sweat.

"The 18 percent of independents has made these races very competitive," Cardenas said.

[summer]

To my fellow FL independent voter friends: If you haven’t had a chance to make up your mind yet, just remember:

(1) JEB'S PROVEN RECORD of LEADERSHIP. Check out Gov Bush’s Outstanding Record of Achievement

(2) JEB BUSH, LONGTIME FRIEND OF ISRAEL. Jeb Bush is the gov candidate who received the endorsement of America's largest Jewish newspaper, The Jewish Journal

(3) PROTEST VOTE! If you’re fed up with the spineless Dem Party leaders, you can send them a message by casting a protest vote for FL’s independent candidate on the ballot – Bob Kunst:

Florida's Independent Gov Candidate Bob Kunst Sounds Off...[Gay candidate Kunst blasts "McBush"]

(4) WASTED VOTE: MCMUMBLE.And, of course, if you want to send FL’s budget into a downward spiral, you can vote for Bill McMumble and his non-platform platform – the only gov candidate who thinks one does not need to offer voters solutions to problems; just more problems.

[summer]

Re #3 above - I meant to add that candidate's website: www.kunstforgov.com

Remember, FL independents - Kunst IS on the ballot!

[summer]

FYI! :)

[summer]

FYI. :)

[summer]

RE my post #1 - See The Jewish Journal endorsement, if you think I am the only non-GOP voter supporting Gov Bush. BTW, they endorsed him in the 1998 race as well.

[katherineisgreat]

Summer, this article is right up your alley isn't it? :)

[summer]

Yes, I love it when the media acknowledges what is really happening in FL. BTW, a minor earthquake on tv's "Capital Gang" yesterday, when Mark Silva, the local political editor from The Orlando Sentinel, was a guest (and, he supported Reno bigtime). They asked him point-blank who he felt would win the FL gov race, and he admitted: Gov Bush. I thought that was big of him! :)

[MeekOneGOP]

[summer]

Thanks for bumping this thread, MeeknMing! :)

[caltrop]

Thanks for the link, summer. I found the Jewish Journal's endorsement fascinating, particularly the fact that Governor Bush wasn't the first Republican to receive their endorsement, they'd also endorsed Nelson Rockefeller and Jacob Javits. That makes them entirely consistent since, as you know, I pointed out a long time ago (and a million times since) that JEB is a Rockefeller Republican. Yes, JEB fits right into the Rockefeller, Javits mold. Incidentally, both Rockefeller and Javits also received the Liberal Party's endorsement in NY, but never the Conservative Party's where Rockefeller and Javits were viewed with contempt.

It's nice to know the Jewish Journal and I agree on where JEB fits into the political spectrum. I'm pretty sure it's one of the very few things on which we do agree.

[Wait4Truth]

A big JEB bump for ya, summer!

[summer]

Yes, I knew you would enjoy reading that. I read it too.

[summer]

Thanks, Wait4Truth. :)

[End The Hypocrisy]

Does anybody perhaps know what the polls are saying about Florida's gubernatorial race? Is Jeb still up by 5?

[summer]

I read something recently that said most reliable polls continue to predict Gov Bush will win by 4%-5%.

[summer]

It's nice to know the Jewish Journal and I agree on where JEB fits into the political spectrum.

But do you and your ultra-conservative friend friend, Tom Feeney, agree on that question? I think not.

Gov Bush seems to me to be more independent than most politicians, because while he stays true to conservative beliefs, he also reaches out to other people.

BTW, The Jewish Journal, while it has a national readership, is based in Los Angeles, Orange County, CA -- and, I think if Gov Bush runs for president in 2008, he will be the first GOP presidential candidate in a long time to win CA.

Finally, here is something you and I agree on compeltely, caltrop: as you said, the FL Dem gov Bill McBride is a "dud." I agree.

[summer]

ultra-conservative friend friend = ultra-conservative friend

[summer]

the FL Dem gov Bill McBride = the FL Dem gov candidate, Bill McBride

[summer]

Non-Cuban FL Hispanics are also voters Gov Bush reaches out to, and by conventional thinking, these voters should be voting Dem. But, they're not. They're voting for Gov Bush in big numbers.

[summer]

FYI -- Why Won't Democrats Dance the Salsa Like the GOP? - The Orlando Sentinel, Oct. 10, 2002