Bush, Crist join for victory lap [Jeb attacks Dem candidate day after primary; Dem candidate MIA]

Orlando Sentinel ^ | September 8, 2006 | John Kennedy and Christopher Sherman | Sentinel Staff Writers

[summer]

Florida's Favorite Governor, Jeb Bush,
hits the campaign trail for Charlie Crist

For the past eight years, Gov. Jeb Bush has been the rock star of Florida politics.

Now, he's just the warm-up act for Charlie Crist, the newly minted Republican nominee who hopes to replace him.

"There is definitely a power shift on the Republican side," said Jim Krog, a former chief of staff for the late Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles. "Jeb will never be irrelevant, because of the strength of his personality. But you can see it. The switch is on."

Bush took the stage with Crist during a three-city victory lap Thursday. In doing so, the governor made his debut in what is expected to be his new role as party fund-raiser and attack dog.

At an appearance in Orlando, Bush showed he is ready to throw the elbows that he says Crist is too nice to use.

"Jim Davis is an ineffective politician, has no vision and would take our state back[ward]," [said] Bush ...

Crist followed the outgoing governor to the podium and promised to continue Bush's agenda of tax cuts and school accountability.

...Crist and Bush were joined on the fly-around by Gallagher and other leading Republicans, with the Orlando stop sandwiched between visits to Hialeah and Jacksonville.

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Jim Davis, a Tampa congressman, returned to Washington for the first time since his victory Tuesday...

..."Jeb used to be the 800-pound gorilla of Florida politics," said incoming Senate Democratic Leader Steve Geller of Hallandale. "But now he's more like the 500-pound gorilla....

[KevinDavis]

In all fairness I thin that Jeb would have been a better President than GW had Jeb been Gov earlier...

[summer]

Well, sometimes our lives are shaped in unexpected ways by our siblings...

[summer]

I"ll tell you the truth: I no longer think it is easer for a Dem to get elected in peace-time. Look at 2000 with Gore and peacetime and a good economy. He really should have won his own home state of TN at least. But he couldn't.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

This guy Davis is toast. He barely survived a bruising Dim primary.

You folks in FL are lucky to have Republicans.

[KevinDavis]

That is true....

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Hoping that Jeb runs for President in 2012......he would be a terrific candidate!!

Why not in 2008? He's taller and more politically astute than GWB. He'd be a great President. I don't care if his last name was Marx.

[Kuksool]

Jeb and Crist are murderers. They killed Terri Schivo. Now they are undermining the Blessed Katherine Harris. If Bill Nelson wins, it shall be the fault of the Bush family. For that crime, the bush family should be impeached. - Katherine Harris Fan Club Rant.

[napscoordinator]

Good point. Hopefully we won't ever have a dem again. It always seems very depressing during their times in office. I know that we are war now, but it seems like Republicans are more positive and upbeat or something. I always find democrats more depressing and I don't even hate them like some. I just don't agree with their politics at all.

[windchime]

"Bush, Clinton, Bush, Clinton, Bush"

Aaacckkkk! Let's eliminate the second Clinton from consideration.

I hope there's no dem in the near future either, certainly not until their drive for power is replaced by a desire to serve their country. As things stand now, we certainly could assume there would be a need for cleanup after a dem term.

I don't think recognizing the potential of JEB as president would require enduring a dem term. Frankly, in 1999 I thought that if only one of the brothers could ever be president, JEB would be the better choice.

President Bush has exceeded my expectations....."I just love that man" is a phrase heard here every time he appears on TV. I just hope his exceptional (although not perfect) service does not preclude Governor Bush from holding the office someday.

[windchime]

"That may be exactly what happens in 2012. We'll see..."

LOL. My need 'to see' and get my two cents in at the ballot box may require living to be a very old woman....one election at a time.

[windchime]

I don't know you and will not battle with you, but your statement is just not true and I won't let it stand unchallenged.

No one in the state or in the US did more within their authority to save Terri Schindler's life than Governor Bush or President Bush.