McBride a challenge, Bush says at Tampa picnic

TAMPA -- Gov. Jeb Bush, stumping for votes Saturday in the home county of Democratic challenger Bill McBride, said he expects the race will go down to the wire.

"A year ago I knew this was going to be a close race," Bush told reporters at the Florida State Fairgrounds. "It's Florida. It's always close."

Bush's remarks came after he addressed 1,000 supporters at a "family picnic" organized by the Hillsborough County Republican Party.

Wearing a button-down shirt and cowboy boots, the governor handed out hot dogs as supporters swarmed him for autographs and photos.

He took credit for better schools and lower crime rates before hitting the road for a chamber of commerce dinner in Hialeah.

"If I'm the first Republican re-elected in modern Florida history . . .," he said, to a rising chorus of cheers, "I won't let you down."

The crowd, which frequently interrupted Bush with chants of, "four more years," was loud and upbeat. But when questioned individually, some Bush supporters said McBride, who stunned political observers with a come-from-behind victory over Janet Reno, looked tough.

"McBride is a brand new game," said Matilda Pelaez of Tampa.

She said Bush was right to not underestimate McBride: "It's better to think that way, isn't it?"

Tampa wrecker driver Dan Thorpe, 43, said McBride was "something different."

"He's going to give Bush a run for his money," he said.

Last week, Democratic Party leaders in Washington were giddy after an internal poll showed McBride within five points of Bush.

Bush took several shots at his opponent during his stump speech, aiming particularly at the support McBride has received from the state teachers union. Both Bush and McBride have made education the centerpiece of their platforms.

McBride "will be controlled by the system rather than pushing for reform," Bush said. "We need to have accountability. Bill McBride will throw it all away."

Bush also criticized McBride's running mate, state Sen. Tom Rossin, D-Royal Palm Beach, for his position regarding trigger locks on guns.

Rossin sponsored a bill last year that would have allowed county commissioners to require the locks.

Bush said voluntary programs that encourage trigger locks are fine. But requiring them is "a stupid idea," he said.

Bush also was asked about the tax returns of McBride's wife, Alex Sink, which showed that the former head of Bank of America's Florida operations made nearly $6.5-million over the past two years.

In 1998, the year he was elected governor, Bush reported income of $782,607 for six months of work. In 2000, his income had dropped to about $200,000, and last year, it was about $155,000.

Said Bush: "Bill McBride, the man of the people, will be the richest governor ever to not be elected."

-- Ron Matus can be reached at 226-3405 or matus@sptimes.com.

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