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8 - The Michigan Daily - Wednesday, November 6, 2002
Bush's campaigning aids GOP election success
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WASHINGTON (AP) - After nearly a year
of political speeches and record-shattering fund
raising, President Bush took heart yesterday in
the success of some candidates among the
hordes of Republicans for whom he had
aggressively campaigned.
Not long after polls started closing, Bush
began dialing up winners, starting with his broth-
er, Jeb, who won re-election as Florida governor
in what the president called a "big victory," said
White House press secretary Ari Fleischer.
Among the dozen others Bush called were
Senate winners Elizabeth Dole in North Caroli-
na, John Sununu in New Hampshire and Lind-
sey Graham of South Carolina. In pivotal
House races, Indiana winner Chris Chocola and
re-elected Kentucky Rep. Anne Northup also
got White House calls.
Bush stumped for scads of Republicans, but
none more so than his brother, for whom he
raised $8 million and appeared often. "I want to
thank our great president of the United States
for coming down and lending a hand to his lit-
tle brother," Jeb Bush said in a speech the pres-
ident watched on TV at the White House.
Bush began his day by voting at the fire-
house in Crawford, Texas, appearing relaxed in
a Western coat, jeans and cowboy boots. "I'm
encouraging all people across this country to
vote," he said before returning to Washington.
There, Bush employed the power of the presi-
dency one last time in search of even briefly.
securing full GOP control of Congress. He made
a congratulatory phone call to Dean Barkley, the
independent appointed to fill the late Minnesota
Democratic Sen. Paul Wellstone's seat during a
short lame-duck congressional session that
begins next week. Democrats now have a 50-49
majority in the Senate, excluding Barkley, while
Republicans hold the House.
With that, Bush could do nothing more than
wait. It was his 25th wedding anniversary, and
the president and his wife hosted a small dinner
at the White House with Republican political
and congressional leaders and their wives.
returns on television.
Vice President Dick Cheney voted by absen-
tee ballot and spent yesterday pheasant hunting
in South Dakota.
Gaining enough seats to swing Senate con-
trol to the GOP would breathe new life into
Bush's legislative agenda. Top wish-list items
blocked in the Senate include filling federal
benches with Bush judicial nominees, partial
privatization of Social Security, more tax cuts,
a new homeland security department, a wide-
ranging energy plan, tort reform in medical
malpractice lawsuits and a Medicare overhaul.
Progress under Republican Senate leadership
also could hand Bush successes for a 2004 re-
election race. Likewise, lack of progress under
continued Democratic leadership could give
him a handy 2004 target.
Finally, Bush was propelled by an over-
whelming desire to win, to cement his political
legitimacy after the disputed 2000 election and
to out-perform his predecessor, former Presi-
dent Clinton.
Progress under Republican Senate leadership also
could hand Bush successes for a 2004 reelection
race.
A midterm history bender - gaining con-
gressional seats for the party holding the White
House - was much on the minds of Bush
political aides. Clinton did it in 1998, but saw
the first midterm election of his presidency, in
1994, turn into a disaster. Never have Republi-
cans gained strength in the House in a midterm
election while holding the White House.
In the five final, feverish days, Bush cam-
paigned nonstop, from frigid, snow-dusted
South Dakota to Appalachia's fall mountain
scenery; from balmy, palm tree-lined Florida to
dreary Central Illinois.
By the time he shut down the effort Monday.
night with an energetic windup rally in rain-
soaked Dallas, Bush had delivered his get-out-
the-vote speech, harshly critical of the Democ-
ratic-run Senate, *on behalf of GOP candidates
in 23 states - in six of them twice - since
September. He dove into governor's races in
key presidential-battleground states and even
gave considerable attention to less-prestigious
House races.
It was his unprecedented campaign cash-col-
lecting that formed the crucial foundation of
the Bush midterm machine. After an opening
fund-raiser Jan. 9 for his brother, Bush raised
$141 million in 67 fund-raisers, obliterating
Clinton's total. Cheney added another $40 mil-
lion to GOP coffers.
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Afterward,
the president tracked election
Night of rivalry ends
well for Republicans
AP PHOTO
Rep. Elizabeth Dole, right, celebrates her victory in the U.S.
Senate race with her husband, former Sen. Bob Dole, in her
hometown of Salisbury, N. C.
Incumbents in
Il.,N.C. ousted
by opponents
Democrats broke a 25-year Republican hold on the Illi-
nois governor's office and took back Pennsylvania yesterday
as they sought to reclaim a majority of the nation's executive
mansions. Florida Gov. Jeb Bush defeated Democrat Bill
McBride in a high-profile victory for the GOP
As 36 states elected governors, one incumbent was ousted
- South Carolina Gov. Jim Hodges, a one-term Democrat,
lost to former GOP Rep. Mark Sanford.
Democrats led in GOP country of Michigan and Kansas,
while Republicans, hoping to minimize the shrinking of their
27-21 edge, held onto New York and Massachusetts. The
GOP also led in Texas.
In Illinois, Democratic Rep. Rod Blagojevich defeated
Republican Jim Ryan in a race that linked Ryan to the scan-
dal-tainted single term of GOP Gov. George Ryan - no
relation - who chose not to seek re-election.
Pennsylvania Democrat Ed Rendell, former mayor of
Philadelphia, defeated GOP Attorney General Mike Fisher.
In a marquee race, Jeb Bush had extensive campaign help
from his brother. Early in the night, President Bush called to
"congratulate him for a big victory," White House press sec-
retary Ani Fleischer said.
GOP businessman Mitt Romney defeated State Treasurer
Shannon O'Brien in heavily Democratic Massachusetts to
continue 12 years of Republican control.
New York Gov. George Pataki easily turned back a chal-
lenge from Comptroller Carl McCall, the only black ever
elected to statewide office there.
In Maryland, where there was another top contest, Demo-
cratic Lt. Gov. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend was seeking to
become the first member of the Kennedy family to serve as
a governor. She saw a huge early lead evaporate. Returns
showed her trailing in a tight race with Republican Rep. Bob
Ehrlich.
In New Hampshire, Republican entrepreneur Craig Ben-
son returned the governor's office to the GOP after six years
Democratic control.
Incumbent GOP Govs. Bob Taft of Ohio, Mike Johanns
of Nebraska, Bill Owens of Colorado, Kenny Guinn of
Nevada and John Rowland of Connecticut all won re-
election.
Alabama Gov. Don Siegelman was leading in his race
against GOP Rep. Bob Riley, despite Republican expecta-
tions that ethics scandals and budget shortfalls had left him
vulnerable.
Early returns also showed close races in Oklahoma, Ten-
nesseeyand Vermont, where the GOP-led Legislature would
choose the next governor if no candidate got more than 50
percent of the vote - a real possibility.
Overall, it was a tough campaign year for the GOP, which
was defending 23 of the 36 seats because of term limits and
retirements amid painful budget shortfalls. Democrats were
defending 11 seats, and independents were leaving office in
Maine and Minnesota.
"The conventional wisdom is that we may lose a few
said Rowland, who acknowledged that view could well
prove right, although he won a third term.
A large group of experienced women candidates battled
onto the ballot this year, making it possible for voters to
break the current record number of five female gover-
nors. All 10 major-party women candidates were compet-
itive in their campaigns' final days - including both
candidates in Hawaii, which was guaranteed to elect its
Associated Press
Republicans marched toward continued
control of the House yesterday and Democ-
rats fought to defend their slender Senate
majority in midterm elections. President
Bush's brother coasted to a new term as gov-
ernor of Florida.
Republicans won two high-profile Senate
races, Elizabeth Dole prevailing in North Car-
olina and John Sununu in New Hampshire.
In Maryland, Robert Ehrlich was elected gov-
ernor - the first Republican in more than three
decades. In Illinois, Rep. Rod Blagojevich cap-
tured the statehouse for the Democrats for the
first time in more than a quarter century.
Democrats needed to gain seven seats to
win control of the House, and the trend was
against them.
Republican Rep. Anne Northup won a new
term in Kentucky, while Democratic Rep.
Karen Thurman trailed narrowly in Florida. In
Indiana, the Republican candidate led for a
Democratic open seat, and the GOP retained an
open seat in New Hampshire.
At the White House, Bush made a round of
congratulatory telephone calls - including one
to his younger brother in Florida. The president
campaigned in 23 states over the final five
weeks of the campaign, hoping to elect con-
gressional candidates who could advance his
legislative agenda over the next two years and
for gubernatorial hopefuls who could aid his re-
elettion in 2004.
He and the Republicans battled history as
well as Democrats in the congressional races.
The president's party had lost House seats in
every midterm election except three in the past
century, an average of 30 seats. The average
midterm loss of Senate seats was four.
But the GOP had advantages, as well. These
included a political landscape transformed by
the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and a
president whose approval ratings remained at
enviable levels despite a sputtering economy.
Republicans also enjoyed financial superiori-
ty. A Federal Election Commission analysis said
the Republican National Committee and its
congressional campaign arms had outraised
their Democratic counterparts by $184 million
through mid-October.
In the last campaign of a free-spending era,
all 435 House seats were on the ballot, as well
as 34 Senate seats and three dozen statehouse
races. Voters filled state legislatures and school
boards, decided whether to legalize possession
of small amounts of marijuana in Nevada, and
settled countless ballot issues elsewhere.
Democrats, too, campaigned with one eye on
the next election, none more so than Rep. Dick
Gephardt of Missouri, the party's House leader
and a likely presidential contender in two years.
Even the top gubernatorial races had presi-
dential overtones. Democrats made defeat of
the president's brother in Florida a top priority,
seeking a victory in the state that was at the
center of the nation's convulsive White House
contest in 2000.
In all, Republicans defended 23 of the 36
governorships on the ballot, while Democrats
were defending 11. Two seats were held by out-
going independents.
Democrats took particular aim at statehouses
across the Midwest where the GOP has long
held power.
Blagojevich delivered Illinois, and Ed Ren-
dell followed with a victory in Pennsylvania.
Bush aside, GOP governors winning new
terms included George Pataki in New York,
Mike Johanns in Nebraska, Bob Taft in Ohio,
John Rowland in Connecticut, Kenny Guinn in
Nevada and Bill Owens in Colorado.
Craig Benson won a first term in New Hamp-
shire, and Mitt Romney kept Massachusetts in
GOP hands.
Mark Sanford defeated Democratic Gov. Jim
Hodges in South Carolina. Mike Rounds suc-
ceeded a Republican in South Dakota.
The GOP was defending 20 Senate seats, to
14 for the Democrats.
Besides Dole, who succeeds a retiring Sen.
Jesse Helms in North Carolina, Republican
Lindsey Graham won the South Carolina seat of
retiring Sen. Strom Thurmond. Lamar Alexan-
der kept a Tennessee seat in Republican hands.
Senators winning re-election included
Democrats John Kerry in Massachusetts,
Richard Durbin in Illinois; Jay Rockefeller in
West Virginia, Joseph Biden in Rhode Island,
Jack Reed in Rhode Island, Carl Levin in
Michigan and Max Baucus in Montana.
Sen. Frank Lautenberg was elected to the
Senate from New Jersey, two years after retir-
ing, and less than a month after he replaced
Sen. Robert Torricelli on the ballot.
Republican winners of new terms included
Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, Thad Cochran of
Mississippi, John Warner of Virginia, Pat Roberts
of Kansas, Chuck Hagel of Nebraska, Jeff Ses-
sions of Alabama, Mike Enzi of Wyoming,
James Inhofe of Oklahoma, Susan Collins in
Maine and Pete Domenici in New Mexico.
Democratic Sen. Tim Johnson battled Rep.
John Thune in South Dakota, and Democratic
Sen. Jean Carnahan ran against former Rep. Jim
Talent in a bid for the four years remaining on
her late husband's term in Missouri. Embattled
GOP incumbents included Sen. Tim Hutchin-
son, up against Mark Pryor in Arkansas; and
Wayne Allard, in a Colorado rematch with Tom
Strickland.
In Minnesota, former Vice President Walter
F Mondale sought a return to the Senate in a
race against former St. Paul Mayor Norm Cole-
man. Mondale took his place on the ballot less
than a week before the election, following the
death of Democratic Sen. Paul Wellstone.
And in New Jersey, former Sen. Frank Laut-
enberg replaced Sen. Bob Torricelli on the bal-
lot in October.
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I
AP PHOTO
Voter News Service troubleshooters for each state handle poll input issues at the
VNS election center in the Brooklyn borough of New York.
Exi't polls not used
due to unreliIab1iity
Exit polls disregarded
by major news networks
due to past failures
NEW YORK (AP) - Voter News
Service abandoned its state and nation-
al exit poll plans for Election Night,
saying it could not guarantee the accu-
racy of the analysis which media
organizations use to help explain why
people voted as they did.
VNS also had problems last night
with a separate operation for counting
the actual vote. CBS and NBC com-
plained the votes were coming in
slowly and they were relying on a
backup operation provided by The
Associated Press.
The company did have limited infor-
mation from the exit poll surveys that
gave its members guidance in project-
ing winners for individual races.
The exit poll failure was a major set-
back for VNS - a consortium consist-
ing of ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, Fox
and the AP. VNS had completely
rebuilt its system in response to the
2000 election, when television net-
works twice used its information to
make wrong calls in the decisive Flori-
da vote for the presidential election.
"We're disappointed that VNS was-
n't able to provide this material," said
Jonathan Wolman, senior vice presi-
dent of The Associated Press.
"Polling place interviews provide an
invaluable glimpse at voters' mood
and priorities."
As in the past, AP was calling elec-
tion winners in a process that involves
an analysis of the actual vote returns,
Wolman said. "Our emphasis is on
accuracy and we're confident we'll
provide a strong service tonight."
In addition, AP reporters around the
country conduct their own interviews
with voters on Election Day to gather
quotes to enrich their stories. This
material, though not a scientific sur-
vey, helps give readers some insight
into how individual voters made their
decisions.
The VNS exit poll was of particular
importance to broadcasters and 19
newspapers, including The New York
Times, Washington Post and USA
Today, that had contracted with the
consortium to receive that information
to report on Election Day trends.
Senate Minority Leader Trent Lott,
speaking on CNN, said he had heard
some exit poll results before polls
closed yesterday.
I
Kolb remains in the 53rd state House seat
By Kylene Kiang
Daily Staff Reporters
State Rep. Chris Kolb (D-Ann Arbor) eas-
ily defeated political newcomer John Milroy
of Ann Arbor in the race for 53rd District
state House representative. At time of print,
Kolb had 77.9 percent to Milroy's 21.9 with
72.7 percent of Washtenaw County's
, precinct votes tallied.
"It's a great day for Democrats in Ann
Arbor," Kolb shouted while announcing
Democratic winners in the Ann Arbor City
Council race yesterday. Kolb made an
appearance last night in Ann Arbor to cele-
brate the Democrats' victory.
Hundreds of Democratic supporters gath-
ered for a victory party at Arbor Brewing
Company last night, which was adorned with
Democratic signs and patriotic decorations.
Even before official results came in support-
ers were confident of Kolb's reelection.
"He's been leading from the beginning,"
"Urban sprawl is basically the inefficient
use of land, and that's what we're seeing," he
said.
During his second term Kolb plans on try-
ing to find new ways to fund programs that
give local governments authority over land
management, like the Purchase of Develop-
ment Rights programs.
Apart from environmental protection,
Kolb named stimulating economic develop-
ment and improving public education and
health care as his top priorities.
With regard to funing in higher education,
Kolb is against tuition increases at public
universities.
"The state has got to step up to not only
help them cut their costs and be more effi-
cient, but also to bring in new funds," Kolb
said earlier this month.
Milroy was not available for comment last
night and was not with fellow Republicans
at Cottage Inn on East Williams Street.
His campaign platform revolved around
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