If you bump started it, it should have fired up with the starter unless you ran the battery down. I don't see a problem, really, other than maybe you need to perfect the starting routine.

I have a single carburetor, but I'm not sufficiently savvy to tell you what kind--the 1293 motor is a Minimania rebuilt unit. Didn't see any puddles of fuel under the car.

Last time I had ther same thing debris had stuck the fuel needle open in the carb above the float. Gas was flowing out the overflow tube all over. After the push start it has done fine since.

What carb setup are you running?  If I'm not mistaken pumping the pedal on an SU carb does nothing but work your leg muscles (meaning result in flooding the carb/intake) as there's no traditional accelerator pump in those carbs. 

Maybe you have some soft fuel line that's cracked.  Was there pooled fuel on the ground under the car?  I would make a diligent effort to determine from where the 'fuel smell' was coming.

Took my 1972 Mk3 (1293cc, no other underhood mods) out for a run last night--a nice, 70deg, relatively comfy evening. Went out on the highway for about 30min, came back down to my area, wandered about to find a parking place, and then met friends for dinner. About 90min later, went to go home, and couldn't get the car to start. I do know the car was running warm when I parked it (I have a new fan and radiator shroud ready to install), and the starter turned over fine, but it wouldn't kick in. I tried starting with both the pedal to the floor, pumping it lightly, and not touching it at all, but nothing happened. I think I wound up flooding it, as I'm told by my two friends you could smell fuel outside. Wound up push-starting it and getting home without incident. Have not had this kind of problem in the past, as the car as started and ran fine.

Thoughts? Am I overreacting because I flooded it? Could there be other issues? Thanks in advance...