OH, THOSE PESKY LITTLE BROTHERS:

Presidential couple (dad and mom) hit trail for Jeb (Mark Silva, October 19, 2002, Orlando Sentinel)

Although various polls have suggested that the governor's race is close, a new survey showing Bush with a 9-point lead over McBride gave cheer to the Republicans on Friday.

The poll by McLaughlin & Associates of Alexandria, Va., done for U.S. Sugar Corp., shows Bush with 49.2 percent to McBride's 40.5 percent, with the remainder undecided. The margin of error was 4 percent. Six hundred people were surveyed by phone Wednesday and Thursday this week.

Jim McLaughlin, the pollster, said Bush was running solidly ahead in all parts of the state except South Florida. The results contrast with a Zogby International poll from last week, showing a three-point lead for the governor.

Considering how closely divided the Florida electorate showed itself to be in November 2000, it's hard to imagine that Jeb Bush could win by more than 5%, so a range of +3% to +9% seems reasonable. Posted by Orrin Judd at October 19, 2002 10:57 AM