Reno Begins Race for Governor

Reno Begins Race for Governor

NewsMax Wires
Monday, Sept. 3, 2001

MIAMI, Fla., UPI -- Former Attorney General Janet Reno will take initial steps toward a run for governor in Florida Tuesday when she opens an account allowing her to raise campaign money, The Miami Herald reported in Saturday's editions.

Sources close to Reno told the Herald that she will make a more formal announcement - with more fanfare and media attention - later in the fall after she recruits senior campaign staff members and gains more familiarity with the local issues.

In a Tuesday interview, Reno, who had been the top prosecutor here before becoming the nation's attorney general in 1993, was coy with reporters. ``Some people think that. I may. I haven't made up my mind yet," But, she added in last Tuesday's interview, "If I open a campaign account, that will mean I'm running."

Reno so far is going it alone. Other Democrats eyeing a run at Gov. Jeb Bush, the Republican incumbent and brother of the president, have at a least one aide focusing on the statewide campaign. Reno has been tooling around the state in her red For Ranger pickup truck, often by herself.

Reno was at a Democratic Party dinner with other hopefuls Thursday night in Gainesville, in the northern end of the state.

The other Democratic candidates -- U.S. Rep. Jim Davis, former Ambassador to Vietnam Pete Peterson, state Rep. Lois Frankel, corporate attorney Bill McBride and gay rights activist Bob Kunst - were like wallpaper in the University of Florida Student Union compared to crowds around Reno, who was without campaign strategists and aides but did come with a friend who put up Reno during her visit. She received two standing ovations after her five-minute presentation.

Reno then drove herself down to Fort Lauderdale for a Friday appearance in the southern end of the state, at the Borward County Public Defender's office.

Many Republicans hope Reno runs and wins the Democratic nomination because they feel Jeb Bush can keep her on the defensive about her service during the Clinton administration - including the Branch Davidian fire at Waco and other issues seen as ammunition for campaign attacks, the Herald reported.

Early polls show Reno swamping the other Democrats in the September 2002 primary but losing to Gov. Jeb Bush in the general election.

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