Bush side scores McBride e-mail list

Fans of the Democratic candidate then get e-mails inviting them to change sides.

By WES ALLISON, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published March 28, 2002

One way of sending mass e-mails, the favored way, conceals the names of recipients. The other way does not.

Which is why Todd Harris, campaign spokesman for Gov. Jeb Bush, is cackling about the vote-seeking e-mail his campaign sent to supporters of Democrat Bill McBride.

And why the McBride campaign is crying spam.

On Wednesday, Bush's campaign sent e-mail to hundreds of people on the McBride campaign's coveted electronic mailing list, asking them to support the governor instead.

"We understand that Bill McBride has recently contacted you regarding his campaign for governor," read the note, signed by Bush campaign director Karen Unger.

"If you would allow us just a moment of your time, we would be grateful for the opportunity to tell you a little bit about why Governor Jeb Bush is seeking re-election and ask you for your support."

McBride, a lawyer from Tampa, is challenging former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno, state Sen. Daryl Jones and state Rep. Lois Frankel for the right to take on Bush in the November election.

Bush's e-mail was tailor-made for people who might be drawn to McBride's pitch for improved education, environmental protection and social service: It said the governor had excelled at all three.

"Governor Bush and Lt. Governor (Frank) Brogan would be honored for your support and invite you to join our campaign," it read.

About 900 people received it.

The McBride campaign apparently made the mailing list public by accident, during a recent note labeled McBride Campaign Update. Rather than take advantage of a standard e-mail function known as BCC -- for blind carbon copy -- that hides the list of recipients, the note included the e-mail addresses of everyone who got it.

Someone on the list gave it to the Bush campaign, Harris said.

"In a political campaign, you want to communicate with as many sets of eyes and ears as you possibly can," he said. "And they provided us with a ready-made list of people for us to talk to, and we took advantage of it."

The McBride campaign learned of the e-mail after some people on the list complained about receiving the Bush material. Regardless how the Bush folks obtained it, McBride spokeswoman Kathy Putnam said, it wasn't proper to use it.

"We certainly believe that it's a violation of privacy of sorts," Putnam said. "Nobody likes to get spam, and this is certainly spam. These are people who have not asked to receive other campaign materials. They've asked to receive Bill McBride campaign materials."

Harris said the campaign heard from several people on McBride's list who were planning to support the governor.

Others who responded to Bush's overture were less gracious.

"Whoever contacts me is none of your (expletive) business," one wrote. "You sure are some sneaky (expletive)."

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