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It’s McBride vs. Bush in November
By Times staff
September 12, 2002
Bill McBride is the Democratic nominee for governor, Florida Secretary of State Jim Smith said late this afternoon. McBride's unofficial margin was 8,196 votes, according to the state, while Reno needed a difference of 6,751 votes or less for the recount.
It is unclear whether Reno will request a recount or challenge the results in the courts. "There's some concern that in some precincts votes were not counted correctly or completely. Until those questions are satisfied we're going to stay the course," campaign manager Mo Elleithee said. He said the campaign has received hundreds of affidavits from voters alleging problems.
Dade elections officials changed the results in four precincts after the returns were reported to the state at noon, Elleithee said. Smith said that is allowed under state law, but doubted the new numbers would change the outcome.
Both McBride and Reno stayed out of the public eye today, Reno huddling with legal advisers while McBride met with campaign officials to plot stragety to challenge Bush in the Nov. 5 general election. Alan Stonecipher, McBride's spokesman, said the campaign was still waiting to see what Reno does before claiming victory.
"We want to see how everything plays out," he said. "We're just focusing on what the immediate situation is."
Robin Rorapaugh, McBride's campaign manager, said if Reno challenges the election, it would be a distraction but it wouldn't keep McBride from raising money.
"It would distract from the Democratic message that Bush needs to be retired and I think it would be horribly divisive," Rorapaugh said.
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