Winner: Marco Rubio. With only token primary challengers, the Republican Senate candidate scored more than 1 million votes -- roughly 150,000 more than the Democratic candidates combined. The lopsided turnout reminded me of a recent call from a Democratic consultant professing amazement over the thousands of people who turned out for conservative talk show host Sean Hannity's Freedom Concert'' in Orlando. Rubio could ride this so-called enthusiasm gap all the way to Capitol Hill.
(Sore) loser: Bill McCollum. The unsuccessful Republican contender for governor won't endorse nominee Rick Scott or quit talking about his former company's Medicare fraud scandal. Guess you can't blame McCollum for feeling bitter about the end of his political career and his third statewide loss, but Democrat Alex Sink will exploit the Republican rift every day he spends sulking.
Winner: Diversity. The top of the Republican ticket has a Cuban American (Rubio for Senate), a woman (Pam Bondi for attorney general) and a candidate under 40 (36-year-old Adam Putnam for agriculture commissioner). The Democratic slate features an African-American (Kendrick Meek for Senate), two women (Alex Sink for governor and Loranne Ausley for CFO) and a Jewish guy from Miami Beach (Dan Gelber for attorney general).
Loser: South Florida. Turnout was about 17 percent in Miami-Dade, under 15 percent in Broward and just over 16 percent in Palm Beach, among the worst showings in the state. Pathetic.
Winner: Grassroots support. Democratic Senate candidate Jeff Greene didn't have it, starkly demonstrated when about 35 people and rows of empty chairs attended his concession speech. Contrast that sad scene with the ebullient party for Democratic congressional candidate Frederica Wilson, who did the electric slide in Miami Gardens with supporters who donned hats to honor her trademark accessory.
Winner: Democracy. Primaries make candidates better. Just ask Barack Obama, who had to overcome Hillary Clinton to get to the White House. Me thinks Scott, Meek and Gelber are better men having faced opposition from within their own parties.
Loser: Harvard. Ivy League educations didn't save Greene and Dave Aronberg, Gelber's rival for attorney general, from defeat.
Winner: Victory speeches. There were a few good ones Tuesday night. Scott, who is usually quiet and stiff, showed a flash of humor. ``Remember me, the handsome bald guy? . . . The people of Florida have spoken and I like what they've said. . . . The dealmakers are crying in their cocktails.''
Winner and loser: Jeb Bush. The former governor picked the the right Republican in several legislative races -- including Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, John Thrasher, Richard Corcoran and Mike Horner -- but bet on the wrong horse for governor. Bush filmed a television commercial for McCollum, campaigned around the state with him and raised money for the campaign.
Loser: Charlie Crist. Meek's victory means he'll have to work at holding Democratic support. He's also made a few cringe-worthy comments in recent days. Why did you return campaign donations to Jim Greer, the ousted chairman of the Republican Party of Florida, but not to GOP donors when you left the party? Crist: ``I think he really needed it.'' If elected, will you caucus with the Democrats or the Republicans? Crist: ``Who cares?''
Do I really need to answer that?
Beth Reinhard is the political writer at The Miami Herald.
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