Debate is last shot at shining

The Democrats' debate might help Janet Reno solidify her lead. It could help Bill McBride and Daryl Jones chip it away.

By ADAM C. SMITH, Times Political Editor
© St. Petersburg Times
published August 27, 2002

It's a high-stakes affair with the makings for low drama.

The Democratic candidates for governor face off tonight for their one and only televised debate, two weeks before the primary. How they do could help determine the outcome.

It could give a boost to Janet Reno's little-known challengers and reduce her standing as the presumed nominee to take on Jeb Bush in November.

Or it could solidify her strong frontrunner status.

Live on most NBC stations, the 7 p.m. debate will offer many voters their first exposure to those challengers, Tampa lawyer Bill McBride and state Sen. Daryl Jones of Miami.

Tampa Bay viewers who choose the debate over Inside Edition or Wheel of Fortune also will see Reno as a candidate instead of the stern attorney general most are accustomed to.

The one-hour debate starts the final sprint before the Sept. 10 Democratic primary and could be critical to McBride's chances of overtaking Reno's lead.

He has been itching to take on Bush, who has been airing TV commercials attacking his management skills and campaign spending. But first he has to get past Reno, whom he has refused to criticize.

"It's an excellent shot for Bill McBride to gain ground and show that he's a serious candidate or the better candidate against Jeb Bush," said Aubrey Jewett, associate professor of political science at the University of Central Florida. "But he's got to be excellent. We're so close to the election date that he can't afford to be perceived as, "Well, he was okay.' "

For the past several weeks, McBride has been the only candidate with enough money to launch crucial TV ads, and his campaign is touting internal polls showing him cutting Reno's lead.

The Reno campaign dismisses the threat from McBride, but after previously downplaying the need to run ads during the primary, Reno launched her first TV spots Monday.

Even as the potential for a close primary rises, few expect much sparring as the three candidates gather tonight at Palm Beach Community College. This is the only debate Reno agreed to, and the relatively few joint appearances by the candidates have been friendly affairs. Their barbs usually are aimed at Bush.

"I would be surprised if anybody takes it down a different road," said Mo Elleithee, Reno's campaign manager.

The format, more forum than debate, also discourages sharp exchanges. Each candidate will have two minutes for opening and closing remarks, and each will have one minute to answer questions from four panelists. No time is alloted for rebuttals, and candidates can't ask each other questions.

Debates are typically remembered more for individual moments or gaffes than solid performances. Not saying something stupid will be a top goal for all the candidates, who have been huddling with policy advisers and taking practice questions.

As the front-runner, Reno, 64, has the most to lose. Her goal will be to retain her image as the de facto Democratic nominee. She wants to be composed, confident and look vital to reassure those who question whether her Parkinson's disease affects her ability to govern.

McBride, a first-time candidate who ran Florida's biggest law firm, wants to convince Democrats that he's a viable alternative to Reno and offers the best shot at beating Bush in November. But McBride, 57, has the least experience at such forums and, like Reno, is an uneven public speaker.

Jones, 47, has raised little money and barely registers in opinion polls. But as a 12-year veteran legislator with detailed knowledge of state government, he has the potential to stand out. He's the strongest public speaker of the three and sometimes breaks into a rap song.

"If Jones really does well in that debate, what he does is take votes away from Reno," said University of South Florida political scientist Susan MacManus, noting that Jones could peel away Reno's support among African-Americans.

Bush said he was unsure what channel he would be watching.

"I don't know," the governor said. "It's on at the same time as Entertainment Tonight, one of my favorite shows."

-- Times staff writer Steve Bousquet contributed to this report.

If you watch

The one-hour debate among the three Democratic candidates for governor will be televised live on WFLA-Ch. 8 at 7 p.m.

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