Several weeks ago the party sent out a mass E-mail message in support of the Democratic gubernatorial candidate, Buddy MacKay.

Bush ran again in 1998, and was able to defeat Buddy MacKay with 55 percent of the vote.

Buddy MacKay completed the unfinished term of outgoing Governor Lawton Chiles after the late governor died in office.

This year, Buddy MacKay lost by 30,000 votes in Florida, where Dukakis fell by 900,000.

Although Jeb came back to easily beat Buddy MacKay in 1998, by then George was the Bush in line for the White House.

Gunter made a final Senate bid in 1988, narrowly losing the Democratic nomination to Buddy MacKay.

"I don't think anyone has provided more courageous leadership or worked harder to improve people's lives than Buddy MacKay," says a commercial for the Florida Democrat.

And why not get together with Buddy MacKay from Florida and put together a task force on it?

"Buddy MacKay has worked hard to make sure the tobacco special interests should not have undue influence on the political process," Ms. Kucera said.

"My mother has been more mean to me than Buddy MacKay was," Mr. Bush later told reporters.