Affirmative Action May Sway Vote Affirmative Action May Sway Vote
Monday October 30 11:56 AM ET
By DAVID ROYSE, Associated Press Writer
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Luckson Lambert will vote against George W. Bush, and the Republican presidential candidate has his younger brother to blame. At least in part. Florida Gov. Jeb Bush angered Lambert, a 20-year-old Florida A&M University sophomore, and many other blacks last year by declaring an end to racial set-asides meant to help women and minorities overcome disadvantages in getting jobs and education. Like a lot of college students with only a passing interest in politics, Lambert might not have gone to the polls. ``But that made me want to vote even more,'' said Lambert, of Fort Lauderdale. ``His brother just passed it just like that. He didn't even ask the people.''
With Bush now in a tight race with Vice President Al Gore for Florida's 25 electoral votes, turnout matters. Democrats hope there are a lot more people like Lambert out there, angry enough at Jeb Bush to vote against his brother. Unfortunately for Democrats, Lambert hasn't been particularly impressed with Gore either. He's considering voting for Green Party candidate Ralph Nader. ``They have said they were going to punish George W. at the polls,'' said Florida State political science professor Lance deHaven-Smith. ``The question is, will you see an increase in turnout, particularly among African-Americans?''
After Jeb Bush replaced affirmative action in state hiring and university admissions
with his ``One Florida'' plan, two black lawmakers occupied his office for 25
hours and thousands marched in protest as he delivered his State of the State
address in March. The Florida governor said his plan would actually increase
access to jobs and education for minorities, and he ordered state agencies under
his control to target minority-owned businesses for contracts. Still, several
black leaders denounced the plan and warned they'd make Republicans pay. ``His
brother is running, and we're going to deal with his brother,'' Rep. Corrine
Brown, a Jacksonville Democrat, said at the time.
No one showed much concern because blacks already vote heavily for Democrats. But now with the presidential race so close, some are wondering if blacks hold a key. ``The question is how large an effect,'' said Keith Simmonds, a Florida A&M political scientist. ``How long are the memories of those who were quite incensed?'' Likely voters in Florida were split evenly for Bush and Gore, 42 percent to 42 percent, in a recent Media General poll. Political scientists doubt that anger over affirmative action is keeping the race close. After all, most Floridians supported Bush's move, according to the most recent survey.
Justin Sayfie, the governor's former spokesman, suggests people who opposed the plan misunderstood it. Sayfie said support for the plan has increased and some anger at the governor may be subsiding following recent announcements of increased minority hiring by state government. ``Even after 'One Florida,' for a Republican governor, he's receiving unusually high support among African-Americans,'' Sayfie said. Another big question is whether some women, also affected by affirmative action, might be more inclined to vote against George W. Bush. Again, political scientists point out that many women who would support affirmative action would tend to vote Democratic anyway. But as with blacks, the question is whether the governor's plan will spur more people to vote.
Regardless of whether George W. Bush is hurt by his brother's affirmative action stance, the real target for those angered will come in 2002, if Jeb Bush runs for re-election. ``The only time you can truly stand in judgment of a leader is when he or she is up for re-election,'' said state Sen. Kendrick Meek, one of two lawmakers who occupied the governor's office in the protest. ``I don't think people are going to forget anytime soon.''
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