Bush, Clinton Rally Florida Voters

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, November 04, 2002

Bush, Clinton Rally Florida Voters

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U.S. President Bush dueled with former President Clinton for votes in Florida Saturday, stoking emotions from the state's 2000 recount battle as they tried to tip the balance in a fiercely contested governor's race that will decide whether Bush's brother Jeb keeps his job.

"For the sake of Florida taxpayers, for the sake of Florida schoolchildren, for the sake of dignity and integrity in the office of governor, send Jeb Bush back to Tallahasse," the president told thousands of rowdy Republicans here.

In the first of three events Saturday with Democratic challenger Bill McBride, Clinton invoked the 2000 recount debacle.

"If you don't vote this time because of what happened last time, it's like taking your vote away twice," Clinton told an audience of blacks and union members at Miami-Dade Community College.

Jeb Bush observed that Clinton, Al Gore, Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton were all campaigning in the state for McBride. Each name drew boos. The governor said he doubted the four would have any impact on the election. "Multiply that by 50 and I will take one George W. Bush," he said.

The president's hearty embrace of his brother �� heavy on the topic of education, a driving issue in the election here �� capped a sprint through Tennessee, Georgia and Florida Saturday.

Bush implored Democrats, independents and "people who don't give a hoot about politics" to vote as he tried to give an edge to GOP candidates for House, Senate and governorships.

The 42nd and 43rd presidents immersed themselves in a contest Democrats say is an Election Day priority: toppling Jeb Bush. Joining the cause Monday, after Clinton's weekend campaigning, was Gore.

Gore has made the Florida recount, which decided the White House, a staple of his get-out-the-vote efforts.

"If anybody ever tells you that one vote doesn't count, talk to me about it," Gore said Friday in West Orange, N.J.

Democrats see the election Tuesday of McBride over the president's brother as a way to embarrass the White House and damage George W. Bush's re-election prospects in 2004.

"They're going to roll out every gun they have to win in Florida," said White House spokesman Ari Fleischer.

Added Susan MacManus, a University of South Florida political science professor: "It's the duel of the presidents."

The bitter 2000 presidential race against Gore loomed large throughout Bush's travels.

"I got a fond spot in my heart for Tennessee, if you know what I mean," he said in Blountville, Tenn. Bush won Gore's home state in the election two years ago.

The Republican faithful packed his audiences, but Bush sought to broaden his message. GOP activists, he said, should "talk it up with people who may not pay attention to politics as much as we do" and reach out to "discerning Democrats."

"I'm traveling the country reminding Republicans, Democrats, people who don't give a hoot about politics to do their duty, and go to the polls," Bush said. In an election season refrain, he added that he had some "suggestions" once voters arrived to vote.

In Tennessee, he promoted Rep. Van Hilleary in his close contest for governor against Democrat Phil Bredesen, and Lamar Alexander, who challenged Bush for the 2000 presidential nomination and who leads Democratic Rep. Bob Clement for Tennessee's open Senate seat.

"If you care about the quality of government in Nashville and Washington, turn out to vote!" Bush said. "Go to your houses of worship, go to your coffee shops, and when you get there Monday morning, instead of sitting around worrying about the weather, worry about who the next governor's going to be, worry about who the next senator's going to be."

Pointing to NASCAR star Darrell Waltrip in the crowd, Bush said the stock car driver had asked his permission to drive the presidential limousine. "No!" Bush said to laughter. But, referring to the region's favorite sport, Bush offered this assurance: Hilleary "is going to win the NASCAR vote."

In Marietta, Ga., Bush boosted Sonny Perdue, a former Democratic president of the state Senate, in his campaign to unseat Democratic Gov. Roy Barnes, the favorite. Bush also made an appeal for Rep. Saxby Chambliss, R-Ga., trying to oust Democratic Sen. Max Cleland.

"It's time to quit the sermonizing and it's time to pass the plate," Bush said.

"If we believe in democracy, if you love freedom, then you have a responsibility to go to the polls next Tuesday, and I'm not talking about just a handful of Georgia citizens, I mean everybody �� Republicans, Democrats, people who could care less about political party," Bush said.

Source: Agencies

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