First brother-in-law Hugh Rodham had hardly savored his easy Democratic primary runoff win over a man who believes in UFOs before turning to his long-shot bid to unseat Republican Sen. Connie Mack.
"We have done this together, and together we will continue on and repeat this beautiful scene a month from now as victors," Rod-ham told cheering supporters in his victory speech."I am committed to moving Florida forward, and Connie Mack will move us back."
Rodham, boosted by an 11th-hour campaign visit by sister Hillary Rodham Clinton, defeated Mike Wiley Tuesday with 58 percent, or 220,750 votes, to Wiley's 42 percent, or 158,734 votes.
Political observers give Rodham little chance against the popular Mack, grandson and namesake of the legendary late owner and manager of baseball's Philadelphia-turned-Oakland Athletics.
"The public is the loser in this one," said Richard Scher, a political scientist at the University of Florida. "The Democratic Party had a responsibility to put on a candidate who could challenge Mack. Rodham is just not a political heavyweight."
"Rodham's task seems even more formidable because he failed to trounce a thoroughly obscure Democratic opponent," said Robert Joffee of the Mason-Dixon polling organization.
Republicans were already licking their chops.
"The fact that Hugh Rodham lost 38 counties to a fellow who said Connie Mack was too liberal is a sign of the troubles in the Democratic Party," said state GOP spokesman Brewser Brown.
Rodham, a 44-year-old former assistant public defender in Dade County, campaigned on a platform of health-care reform, a woman's right to choose abortion and tough environmental protection. He also favors alternative programs for first-time criminal offenders.
President Clinton congratulated Rodham in a telephone call Tuesday night.
"Obviously the family has been very supportive," said White House spokesman Arthur Jones. "Warmest congratulations were presented."