THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Tuesday, September 13, 1994 TAG: 9409130335
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A5 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: TALLAHASSEE, FLA. LENGTH: Short : 30 lines
Jeb Bush became the Republican nominee for governor of Florida on Monday as his closest challenger withdrew from the race.
The son of former President Bush will face Democratic Gov. Lawton Chiles in November. Bush, 41, won 46 percent of the vote in Thursday's GOP primary, just short of the majority needed to win the nomination outright. That set him up for an Oct. 4 runoff against Secretary of State Jim Smith, the second-place finisher with 18 percent. Smith announced his withdrawal from the race Monday at a news conference attended by Bush.
``Too much to make up. No way to do it,'' Smith said. ``There would have to be a bloodletting.'' Smith gave his support to Bush.
``He's putting aside his ambitions for the principles he believes in,'' Bush said of Smith. Bush's brother, George W., also is in a governor's race, facing incumbent Democrat Ann Richards in Texas in fall. ILLUSTRATION: Jeb Bush
by CNB