President’s brother stumps in Newport

Paul Clinton

Taking a break from a heated legislative session, Florida Gov. Jeb

Bush swept into town Thursday to promote his brother for a second

White House term to a GOP group gathered for a private fund-raiser at

the Four Season Hotel.

Bush took a break from his own political pressure cooker, which

has pitted him against his own party in a battle to pass a medical

malpractice bill.

Even as Bush took a respite from Florida politics to speak briefly

about his own state’s improved economy, the younger brother of

President Bush turned his primary focus to the 2004 campaign.

“The fact that I’m here is an indication of how important

California is in the next election,” Jeb Bush said. “If a Republican

carries California, it’s over ... . I believe because of California,

my brother will be reelected.”

Bush left Florida after a Wednesday impasse on the malpractice

bill, extending a legislative deadline to Monday. Bush had turned up

the heat on Republican colleagues who had not supported his

malpractice bill, several Florida newspapers reported.

On Thursday evening, as he spoke to a packed room of local

politicos, business leaders and GOP activists, Bush urged Republicans

to mobilize support for his older brother. The New Majority and

California Republican Party jointly sponsored the event.

Before addressing the packed ballroom, George Argyros, ambassador

to Spain and Costa Mesa developer, offered brief introductory remarks

about Bush.

“It’s wonderful to be back,” said Argyros, who had just returned

from Spain. “You’re all invited to Spain, and I hope you’ll come

soon.”

The crowd included such local luminaries as Irvine Co. Chairman

Donald Bren, Newport Beach homebuilder William Lyons, actor Erik

Estrada and former county Supervisors Cynthia Coad and Bruce

Nestande.

“He hit on all of the major issues,” Nestande said of the speech.

Supporter Jeff Frieden, who lives in Dana Point, said he also

liked what he heard from Bush.

“I thought it was as good as expected,” Frieden said. “Anytime you

raise money, it’s fairly strong for any political party.”

Florida voters elected Bush to their top elected post in 1998 at

the same time George W. Bush held the top job in Texas.

With the 2000 presidential election coming down to the wire, Jeb

Bush played a public role in the counting of ballots for Florida’s

electoral votes, which swung the campaign against presidential

candidate Al Gore.

Jeb Bush recused himself from any decisions affecting the vote

counts. In 2002, he was reelected, defeating Democrat Bill McBride,

who had upset former Atty. Gen. Janet Reno in the primary.

* PAUL CLINTON covers the environment, business and politics. He

may be reached at (949) 764-4330 or by e-mail at

[email protected].