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Bush raising artform { October 17 2002 }

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   http://www.news-journalonline.com/2002/Oct/17/AREA1B.htm

http://www.news-journalonline.com/2002/Oct/17/AREA1B.htm

Thursday, October 17, 2002
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Political observers read between lines of president's visit
By RON HURTIBISE (ron.hurtibise@news-jrnl.com)

Staff Writer
DAYTONA BEACH -- Democrats and Republicans are offering vastly different spins on the president's planned visits today to a New Smyrna Beach elementary school and private fund-raiser in the Daytona Beach area.

Ryan Banfill, spokesman for the state Democratic Party, says the president's visit three weeks before his brother faces re-election smacks of desperation.

With polls showing Gov. Jeb Bush's lead over challenger Bill McBride narrowing to 3 points, "the governor's campaign is pushing the panic button by bringing big brother down to Florida here," Banfill said.

At a White House press briefing Wednesday, Press Secretary Ari Fleischer was asked if the president's trip was motivated by worries about his brother's chances.

Fleischer said the president "looks forward, of course, to helping people across the country, whether they're running for governor, or for the House, or for the Senate, who believe in an agenda that he believes in." While Jeb Bush's re-election bid will be up to Florida voters, Fleischer said, "ultimately, the president is confident in the outcome of the election there."

That's not how Dick Martinez, vice chairman of the Volusia County Democratic Executive Committee, sees things. He accused the Bush brothers of politicizing Florida's education system by staging an "official," or non-campaign event at a public school immediately before a campaign fund-raiser.

Piggybacking the two events is common during national election years, allowing the campaign to split the cost of the president's visit with taxpayers.

"Obviously his brother needs help on the education issue, because he's lost credibility on the schools issue by three and a half years of going downhill," Martinez said.

Democrats suggest the education round-table discussion planned at Read-Pattillo Elementary School this afternoon was scheduled to force taxpayers to foot part of the bill, and even Florida Republican Party spokesman Towsen Fraser acknowledged that the schedule was no coincidence.

"When the president is going to be in town we try our best to make as much of his time as we can," he said. "There's limited time and (candidates) throughout the nation looking for his attention."

As for the fund-raiser, neither the White House nor the Jeb Bush campaign was willing to reveal where it would be located. But invited guests who did not want to be named said it would be at the riverfront residence of Lesa and Bruce Kennedy, members of the France racing family, who are strong financial supporters of the Bush family. The invited guests would not confirm reports from other sources who said organizers are trying to get a select number of invited guests to contribute $50,000 a couple.

Banfill scoffed at reports that Jeb Bush needs to raise more money. According to the governor's most recent campaign finance report, the campaign has raised $9.4 million and has spent $2.6 million, while McBride has racked up $5.4 million and spent $3.6 million.

"And they need a fund-raiser?" Banfill said.

In New Smyrna Beach, Suzy Smith, president of the Volusia Teachers Organization, said she hopes to motivate about 50 teachers to turn out during the president's visit. Their goal, she maintained, is not to protest but to stage a "pro-public-education rally."

"Our candidate is McBride, who we think is pro-public education," she said.

She said no one from the union was invited to participate in the round-table discussion. "I keep checking for my invitation and the mailbox is empty," she said.

Union members and any other protesters who make their way to the venue will be restricted to the parking lot of a nearby shopping center where guests will be directed to park their cars, according to Lt. Wade Kirby of the New Smyrna Beach Police Department.

Protesters throughout the country have stepped up complaints recently about aggressive handling by local law enforcement agencies, working in conjunction with the Secret Service, to keep protesters out of sight of the president, the national press corps, or even motorists along major thoroughfares.

Meanwhile, supporters carrying Bush signs are free to stand outside of designated protest zones, according to the complaints. Arrests last year in Tampa of three people, including two grandmothers, for stepping outside the demonstration zone during a presidential visit are expected to trigger civil rights suits against the Tampa Police Department, the St. Petersburg Times reported this week.

Independent governor candidate Bob Kunst, who plans to show up at the site today, says he's been treated aggressively twice at about 20 presidential events he's protested since Bush's inauguration.

"Most of the time, they try to keep everybody very isolated," he said. "It was started by (former President) Clinton, but Bush has turned it into an art form."



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