At the same time, many of the ticket-splitters think Bush is trading on his parents' good name and worry that he may not be bright enough to do the job. I liked his father more. So the signals Bush and Gore will send over the next few weeks, as they select their running mates and deliver their convention acceptance speeches, will probably put more of a stamp on the campaign than anything that has happened since they learned they would be running against each other. More people will hear their Aug. 3 and 17 acceptance speeches than are likely to tune in again until the candidates debate in October. For now, most voters are not taking the campaign seriously, because they don't think all that much is at stake.
Many people think Washington is beyond redemption or find the candidates uninspiring.
So turnout is problematic. By contrast, the politicians here in the state capital are awed by the stakes in the election. But that is just the beginning. A huge battle is shaping up between business and the trial lawyers over control of the state Supreme Court. Republicans now hold a 5 to 2 majority, but three of the five Republicans who have been overturning generous jury awards are on the ballot.