State: Convention buzz builds around McBride

Convention buzz builds around McBride

Delegates to the Democratic convention rally in opposition to Gov. Jeb Bush, but divide over which candidate can succeed.

By WES ALLISON, Times Staff Writer

Delegates to the Democratic convention rally in opposition to Gov. Jeb Bush, but divide over which candidate can succeed.

ORLANDO -- Sara Rose, president of the Broward Young Democrats, counts meeting former U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno among the highlights of her life. She helped pack a Reno fundraiser. She would love to see a woman elected governor.

But the red and blue stickers on Rose's dress this weekend promote Tampa lawyer Bill McBride as the best Democrat to face incumbent Republican Gov. Jeb Bush.

"When it comes down to beating Jeb Bush, I think Bill McBride will have the best shot," she said. "I almost feel a little bad."

There are many like Rose this weekend at the Florida Democratic Convention.

McBride, a first-time candidate who wasn't recognizable to many activists a year ago and still is a stranger to many voters, has made considerable inroads among party regulars.

Reno enjoys plenty of support at the convention, too. But the battle for the Democratic nomination appears much closer among party activists than in recent opinion polls. A St. Petersburg Times/Miami Herald poll shows Reno leading McBride among Democratic voters, 48 percent to 18 percent. But 25 percent of the Democratic voters are undecided.

While the candidates maneuvered for attention Saturday, Democrats focused on Bush in their speeches. They took turns criticizing the Republican incumbent's policies on education, the environment and tax policy.

"We are mad as hell about the state of education in our state," U.S. Sen. Bob Graham said, "and we're going to do something about it."

The education theme reverberated through the candidates' speeches as well.

"We can't go on sacrificing the hopes and dreams of our young people," said McBride, who proposes a 50-cent tax increase on a pack of cigarettes, to be spent on education. "It's time to stand up and tell the truth about public education in Florida -- and fix it."

"These problems might not be the governor's problems, but they're Florida's problems, and I want them to be my problems," Reno said. "I want to put 25 years of government service to work . . . for the people of Florida."

Bush holds a commanding lead over any Democrat in opinion polls. He ranks education as his top priority, and campaign aides say he is looking forward to promoting his record.

While Reno has long been the favorite to win the Democratic nomination and face Bush, the convention hall was markedly more electric for McBride than for Reno.

Those who back McBride say he's the Democrats' best hope of preventing Bush from winning re-election. McBride, 54, is a decorated Vietnam combat veteran. He ran the state's largest law firm, Holland & Knight, and he has close ties to the conservative-leaning business community.

"It's unfortunate that's why you pick a candidate, but yeah," said Russell Harper, 48, of Jacksonville, a member of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, which is backing McBride. "I mean, he knows the issues, and he's worker-friendly, but we think he's got the best shot."

McBride backers said they admire Reno, 63. But they contended she is too controversial and too liberal to carry Florida. Reno's handling of the Branch Davidian raid near Waco, Texas, and her decision to send Elian Gonzalez back to his family in Cuba were particularly controversial.

Broward Sheriff Ken Jenne, an influential Democrat in South Florida, said he sees McBride gaining momentum, but Jenne has not endorsed either candidate. "The political elites think he can win, so they're going with him," Jenne observed. "But I haven't seen the shift in the rank and file."

McBride's support and his performance this weekend illustrate how far he has advanced. Last June, his unpolished speech was poorly received at the party's annual Jefferson-Jackson dinner. He joked about his slow start Saturday during a thundering speech that frequently criticized Bush and brought the crowd to its feet.

"He's grown a hell of a lot," said Lew Jones, a retired school principal who lives at the Villages in Sumter County. "He can look you in the eye now, he can answer questions, he has a plan now, and I think he's electable. That's why I like him."

Reno supporters cite her record as attorney general, willingness to act despite criticism, star power and ties to former President Bill Clinton.

"She's always going to do what's right, even at the cost of her political goals," said Darlene Stafstrom, 58, of New Port Richey.

Reno campaign aides say they are not worried about the considerable support McBride brought to Orlando. But they have taken notice of his support among party activists and are trying to counter the notion that she can't beat Bush.

Several days ago, Reno sent a letter to the 2,500 delegates asserting that she can bring to the polls the core Democratic constituencies. She said that will provide enough votes to beat Bush.

Two other mainstream candidates for governor, state House Minority Leader Lois Frankel of West Palm Beach and state Sen. Daryl Jones of Miami, are considered long shots. Frankel is considering whether to drop out of the race.

This weekend's convention serves as a pep rally for far-flung Democrats: environmentalists from Tampa Bay, state workers from Tallahassee, gay activists from South Florida, and beefy union electrical workers from Jacksonville with Southern twangs and glasses of bourbon.

Whether their nominee is Reno or McBride, Democrats said they can beat Bush by painting him as bad for education, working people and the environment. "He's upset the unions, he's upset the state employees, he's upset the teachers, he's upset the university professors," said Anna Duggars, chairwoman of the Escambia County Democratic Party.

Less than seven months before the general election, though, Bush holds a commanding lead.

Former Vice President Al Gore, who lost the 2000 presidential race in Florida by 537 votes to George W. Bush in a disputed election, encouraged Democrats to remain upbeat. He told them that he appeared to be hopelessly behind the April before that election. "Everybody said we were so far behind, there's just no point," said Gore, who brought the crowd to their feet several times. "Make up your minds to use that energy and use that spirit so regardless who the nominee is, we're going to elect a Democratic governor."