[6] Jeb Bush enjoyed double-digit leads in polling through most of the campaign, and had a large fundraising advantage over MacKay.

[4] Setting a tone of compassionate conservatism, and portraying himself as a "consensus-building pragmatist,"[7] he met with African American leaders, and reached out to Jews and Hispanics.

He introduced his Mexican-born wife Columba on the campaign trail, and demonstrated his fluent bi-lingual abilities, particularly in South Florida.

[9] MacKay ran from behind for the entire race, and barely managed closed to gap to ten points in the days leading up to the general election.

Charlie Crist was easily defeated in his Senate race, and House Republicans did not pick up any seats in the midterms.

"[10] MacKay oversaw the state funeral of Chiles, and made a handful of minor appointments, before Bush was sworn in as the 43rd Governor on January 5, 1999.