Election 2004

Bush top adviser rallies local GOP

TAMPA - Days before the Democratic presidential candidates come to court Florida Democrats, President Bush's top political strategist popped into the state to fire up key Republicans.

White House political adviser Karl Rove joined fundraisers and party leaders in Tampa and Jacksonville Tuesday, taking questions and discussing strategy and grassroots planning. Participants said Rove made it clear that the Bush re-election campaign is taking nothing for granted in Florida.

"He expects the Democrats to fight extremely hard for Florida, and he expects it to be a battleground again," said Pinellas GOP chairman Paul Bedinghaus, who joined Rove and about 30 other Republicans at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Tampa.

Others at the Tampa brunch included state GOP finance chairman Al Austin of Tampa, former Gov. Bob Martinez, former Tampa Mayor Dick Greco, state Attorney General Charlie Crist, state party chairwoman Carole Jean Jordan, retired businessman Jim MacDougald of St. Petersburg, and Tampa heart surgeon Raghavendra Vijayanagar. A spokeswoman for Gov. Jeb Bush said the president's brother did not see Rove on Tuesday.

Florida briefly will become the center of the Democratic campaign for president this weekend. All nine contenders are expected in Orlando for the state Democratic Party's annual convention.

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