“Jeb Bush is gone!”
This was the prediction made by Democrat National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe on last Sunday’s, “Meet the Press” with Tim Russert.
McAuliffe’s prediction along with most other political forecasters was completely wrong.
Monday night on “Fox News,” Dick Morris predicted that Republicans would barely hold on to a majority in the House, and that Democrats would gain at least two seats in the Senate.
Election night arrives, and it was all Republican.
The gubernatorial races around the country were all too close to call. But there were some interesting showdowns, especially in some of the more left-leaning states.
Republican Robert Ehrlich upset Democrat Kennedy Townsend in Maryland who had bashed her opponent on gun-control issues. Ehrlich is the first Republican to hold that seat in 38 years.
The biggest win of the night in the gubernatorial elections was Jeb Bush’s landslide victory in Florida. The Democrats have focused on this race since the 2000 presidential election believing a same scenario could happen again in 2004.
Clinton and Gore’s stumping for McBride obviously had no effect on McBride’s campaign, but big brother Bush delivered again for little bro’ Jeb.
Sonny Perdue will be Georgia’s first Republican Governor since 1872. He won in a close race with incumbent Gov. Roy Barnes. The GOP delivered for other key Governor’s races in Massachusetts, South Carolina, New York, New Hampshire, Texas and Rhode Island. Only Roosevelt and Clinton gained House seats for their parties in midterm elections in this century. Now President Bush becomes the first to gain for his party this century in the House.
Anne Northrup won in Kentucky’s 3rd District after much mudslinging between her and Democrat Jack Conway. In Florida’s 13th District Katherine Harris, who called the victory for Bush in 2000 won last night against foe Jan Schneider.
Republicans now hold 226 of the 218 needed to have a majority as of Wednesday morning.
The most impressive gains took place in the Senate where Democrats expected to make headway. The most highly profiled Senate race took place in Minnesota between former St. Paul mayor Norm Coleman and former Vice President Walter Mondale. Coleman won despite Mondale’s promise of keeping the Wellstone legacy alive. This seat was a gain for Republicans in the Senate.
Jim Talent won back Attn. Gen. Ashcroft’s old Senate seat from Jean Carnahan, the wife of former Gov. Mel Carnahan. Jean Carnahan lost over what some said was her lack of knowledge on the issues.
Former Democrat mayor of Dallas, Ron Kirk, could not muster up enough support to beat Attn. Gen. John Cornyn. John Cornyn did win the seat vacated by Sen. Phil Gramm.
Republican Rep. Saxby Chambliss defeated Democrat Sen. Max Cleland in an upset for the Georgia Senate seat. Clelands flop came on his voting record concerning the war on terrorism. In North Carolina, Elizabeth Dole retained the Republican held Senate seat held by retiring Sen. Jesse Helms.
Republican John Sununu prevailed against Democrat Gov. Jeanne Shaheen in a close race for the seat vacated by Bob Smith. Wayne Allard held on to his seat after a tough fight from Democrat Tom Strickland. In Tennessee, Lamar Alexander easily beat Rep. Bob Clement to replace retiring Sen. Fred Thompson.
As a side note, Nevada voted down gay marriages and legalizing marijuana.
Democratic National Comittee Chairman Terry McAuliffe failed in this midterm election battle to prove to the population that the Democrats had the better issues. The war on terrorism, cutting taxes and homeland security are the most important issues to the American public.
Bush proved himself as a force within the elections and a force to be reckoned with in 2004. Republican strategist Karl Rove is basking in the sunlight after his candidate selections had a successful night at the polls.

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