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Politics : Politics for Pros- moderated -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: JohnM who wrote (3611)	7/22/2003 12:57:51 PM
From: LindyBill	Respond to of 793552

Only jokes. No substance. Look what he is dealing with. The biggest joke running for office. And he did get off a few good ones. He is going down a dangerous road with this political commentary. Turns off the left, which is where a lot of his audience is.

To: JohnM who wrote (3611)	7/22/2003 2:20:14 PM
From: LindyBill	Respond to of 793552

Graham, like Edwards, is trying to burn the candle at both ends. Could cost the Dems a Senate seat if he is not careful. 2 Bush aides hired for House speaker's race for U.S. Senate By Bob Mahlburg Tallahassee Bureau - Orlando Sentinel July 22, 2003 TALLAHASSEE -- House Speaker Johnnie Byrd on Monday hired two former key aides of Gov. Jeb Bush to help mount his campaign for the U.S. Senate. Byrd, R-Plant City, named Bush's former campaign manager Karen Unger and former communications director Todd Harris to his staff for the 2004 campaign. The moves suggest that Byrd sees himself as a serious GOP contender for the seat of U.S. Sen. Bob Graham, who is running for president. "Karen and Todd were a critical part of the team that re-elected Jeb Bush, and I am confident that with their help, this campaign will be just as successful," said Byrd, who filed his official Senate campaign papers Friday. Democratic Party Chairman Scott Maddox said the appointments show that Bush supports Byrd's "extreme conservative positions" on issues such as limiting court awards for medical mistakes. "They've moved in lockstep through the recent special sessions," Maddox said. "That speaks volumes. And once again, you see Jeb Bush embracing the far right. But as long as Johnnie Byrd's the candidate, they don't have much to work with. He's wasted taxpayer dollars with special sessions, media people, and shakedowns of special interests." As state lawmakers have wrestled through a series of special sessions on medical malpractice, Byrd has been quietly raising tens of thousands of dollars for a political committee he controls. Lobbyists, many with health-care and insurance clients affected by medical-malpractice limits, say they have been solicited by Byrd to contribute to a political action committee in recent weeks. Harris said the hirings do not mean that Bush is endorsing Byrd, though Harris said the governor knew they were taking the jobs and said Bush could have objected. "Perhaps Scott Maddox doesn't realize he's doing us a favor by trying to tie our campaign closer to Gov. Bush," Harris said. Bush spokeswoman Alia Faraj said that staffers of the governor have taken other jobs but that is "in no way indicative of the governor's position on an issue or a candidate." Harris, who until recently worked for the state Department of Education, said Bush and Byrd are both strong public officials, adding, "The same kind of leadership Karen and I saw in Jeb Bush are the same as we see in Johnnie Byrd, which is why we're supporting him." Democrats eyeing Graham's seat include U.S. Reps. Alcee Hastings of Miramar, Peter Deutsch of Pembroke Pines, Allen Boyd of Monticello, Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas and former state Education Commissioner Betty Castor of Tampa. Republicans seeking the spot include U.S. Rep. Mark Foley of Palm Beach Gardens and former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum of Longwood. Other possible Republicans are state Sen. Daniel Webster of Winter Garden, U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon of Palm Bay, and U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris of Sarasota. orlandosentinel.com