Gov. Jeb Bush meets with enthusiastic Hispanic supporters
in Dania Beach, located in Dem stronghold, Broward County, FL.
'The Jeb Bush Nobody Knows' - Part 18: Jeb habla Espanol: "FL, Nuestra Casa." (See new TV ad here!)
by summer, a former Dem, now an independent and a FL certified teacher
As is often the case when I contemplate writing one of these editorials, I was researching a completely different topic when I stumbled upon something else which caught my eye.
BTW -- For those who want to immediately see and hear Jeb's newest television commerical (and prefer to skip my editorial and other info) do this: Click on the television set in the upper right hand corner of the page after you click HERE.
I think one of the biggest, overlooked stories developing in this on-going FL governor race has to be the incredible support Gov. Jeb Bush is receiving from FL's non-Cuban Hispanic voters.
These are traditionally Dem voters in other parts of the country, but, here in FL, these non-Cuban Hispancis voters tend to be swing and independent voters.
And, they going for Gov. Bush in a big way.
This is very fortunate for Gov. Bush, since there are so many of these voters. According to the Associated Press article posted in its entirety below:
"There are 2.4 million Hispanics living in Florida, compared with 1.5 million 10 years ago. Many do not share the Republican politics of the Cuban-American population. [In Election 2000] Hispanics made up one out of 10 Florida voters, splitting evenly between Gore and Bush."
To keep their enthusiasm, Jeb is already on TV speaking in Spanish to them, in his second TV commercial buy. (His initial tv ads concerned education.)
What are the Dem gov candidates doing, you ask? Nada. [Nothing.] They are nowhere to be found, as usual here in FL. As of this date, they're still not on tv, so Jeb has the airwaves to himself.
In a recent poll of these non-Cuban Hispanic voters, they couldn't even come up with the name of the Dem gov candidates. To see what I mean, check out this recent Orlando Sentinel article: In poll, Central Florida's Hispanics favor Gov. Bush
But, ask these same voters about Jeb? And - "Si!" Almost all of them know - and like - the very fluent bi-lingual, Spanish speaking Gobernado Jeb!
I notice political experts such as Stuart Rothenberg of Rollcall.com seem to have it all wrong when it comes to these FL voters. In his April 4, 2002 column, Rothenberg erroneously claimed the following:
"But Hispanic growth in the Florida electorate in 2000 was among non-Cuban Hispanics, and continued growth in that demographic group would almost certainly benefit the Democratic nominee, not Bush, in 2004."
My note to Mr. Rothenberg: "Stu, que lastima! Usted no comprende Jeb y La Florida -- Nuestra Casa."
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Additional info, from the Associated Press, November 2000:
Demographics Shift in Florida
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) -- For most of the 20th century, Florida was safe Democratic territory along with the rest of the South before it turned sharply toward the Republican Party in the past two decades.
Many thought Vice President Al Gore was bluffing in mid-March when he came to Florida and said he was preparing an all-out effort to capture the state's 25 electoral votes.
But Florida's diverse electorate resulted in a virtual tie between Gore and Republican George W. Bush, leaving the 2000 presidential race up in the air. It's the only state of the Old Confederacy that isn't in the Bush column -- yet.
"It's not the South. It's the most different state along with California," said Larry Sabato, a University of Virginia expert on Southern politics. "There is a highly unusual mix of people. They are the two most important, unusual, unpredictable states."
Florida's electorate reflects an increasing number of Hispanic immigrants and retirees. And the voting profile is becoming more independent.
More than a third of the state's population is over the age of 50 -- the age group that votes the most. In 1996, exit polls found that voters 45 and over made up 55 percent of the state's electorate.
There are 2.4 million Hispanics living in Florida, compared with 1.5 million 10 years ago. Many do not share the Republican politics of the Cuban-American population.
Last week, Hispanics made up one out of 10 Florida voters, splitting evenly between Gore and Bush.
There are still more registered Democrats in Florida, but independents are the fastest growing segment of registered voters. Democrats claim nearly 3.7 million registered voters, the Republicans 3.3 million, and independents 1.4 million.
Associated Press (c) iSyndicate, Inc.
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This NationalJournal.com article is on the source link (and there's where you can see the new tv spot):
2002 POLITICAL ADS
Jeb Bush Promotes Party Ticket In Spanish-Language Spot
By Shelby Polakoff, NationalJournal.com
© National Journal Group Inc. Wednesday, July 11, 2002
The Republican Party of Florida recently released a Spanish-language ad targeting the concentrated Hispanic populations of Miami, Orlando and Tampa that features Gov. Jeb Bush (R).
The flags of Mexico and several Central American countries are on screen as a voiceover says, "No matter where we came from, or why we came... We have found in this land, opportunity." The ad says that Florida provides a better education for children, as well as health care that families deserve. Then, Bush says in Spanish that he is helping to make a better life in the state of Florida, the "place we call home."
The ad, produced by Murphy Pintak Gautier Hudome, went on the air in the various markets July 4 and 5. It is the first in a buy that will run through the November election, according to Republican Party of Florida press secretary Towson Fraser.
Ad Spotlight has the latest commercials from the 2002 campaigns and issue/advocacy groups, as well as searchable archives dating back to 1997.
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[Spanish] Script of "Banderas" (TV)
(On screen: Vote por Jeb Bush para Gobernador, Tom Galagher para el Ejecutivo de Finanzas y Charles Bronson para Commisionado de Agricultura. Anuncio politico haprepado por el Pardico Republicano de Florida y apropado por Jeb Bush, Tom Galgher y Charles Bronson Republicos.)
ANNOUNCER [v/o]: No importa de donde venimos, o porque vinimos. Nosotros hemos encontrado en este pais, oportunidad. Una mejor educación para nuestros hijos. La atención médica que nuestras familias merecen. Un estado que nos ha abierto su corazon y nos ha dicho, "Esta es nuestra casa."
(On screen: the flags of Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and the Florida state flag)
JEB BUSH: Todos queremos una vida mejor. Juntos, estamos logrando que todo esto sucede en esta tierra -- nuestro lugar -- La Florida, Nuestra Casa.
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[English] Translation of "Banderas" (TV)
(On screen: Vote for Jeb Bush for Governor, Tom Galagher for Executive of Finances and Charles Bronson for Commisioner of Agriculture. Political announcements prepared by the Republican Party of Florida and approved by Republicans Jeb Bush, Tom Galagher and Charles Bronson.)
ANNOUNCER [v/o]: No matter where we came from, or why we come...We have found in this land, opportunity. A better education for our kids. Health care our families deserve. A state that has opened its hearts and said to us, "This is our home."
(On screen: the flags of Cuba, Mexico, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Venezuela, Nicaragua, and the Florida state flag)
JEB BUSH: We all want a better life. Together, we are making it happen in this place we call home. Florida, our home.
