Rep. Harris, GOP finally unite in Fla. (President Bush fundraising in Florida)

AP on Yahoo ^ | 9/21/06 | Brendan Farrington - ap

[NormsRevenge]

ORLANDO, Fla. - President Bush came to Florida on Thursday and publicly complimented Rep. Katherine Harris (news, bio, voting record) for the first time since she won the GOP Senate nomination over the opposition of her own party.

"I'm proud to be here with Congresswoman Katherine Harris, who is running for Senate," Bush told a crowd of about 400 people at a fundraising event in Tampa.

The brief acknowledgment came after months of unsuccessful efforts by Republican leaders to push Harris out of the race in hopes of finding a candidate they felt had a better chance of winning against Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson (news, bio, voting record).

Some GOP leaders feared that Harris — who as Florida secretary of state oversaw the 2000 recount that gave Bush the White House — would send Democrats flocking to the polls to vote against her, dragging down the entire Republican ticket.

But now that the party is stuck with her, GOP leaders welcomed Harris as Bush visited Tampa and Orlando on Thursday to raise money for the party.

Bush's remarks came at a fundraising event for Republican congressional hopeful Gus Bilirakis in Tampa. It was the president's first trip to Florida since the Sept. 5 primary.

Harris also joined party leaders at the Orlando event, where the president followed his brother Gov. Jeb Bush in urging the crowd to vote for her.

"The party invited her, and we're glad she's able to attend," said state Republican Party spokesman Jeff Sadosky.

The star of the evening, though, was Attorney General Charlie Crist, the Republican nominee to replace the governor, who is barred from seeking a third term. Crist introduced the president, then sat behind him with Jeb Bush during his remarks. Harris was among several hundred people in the crowd.

Before Harris won the primary with less than half the vote in a four-way race, Republican leaders in Tallahassee and Washington tried to find a candidate who could defeat her. Gov. Bush openly said she couldn't win the November general election, and Carole Jean Jordan, the state party chairman, wrote to her saying the same, although Sadosky noted that both immediately supported Harris after the primary.

"Primaries are a family fight," Harris said before the Orlando event. "They're an internal little feud, and afterward, we come together so we can win."

Harris' Senate campaign has gone into a tailspin. She has been tied to a corrupt defense contractor, given embarrassing television interviews and seen top members of her staff quit in frustration.

Harris trails Nelson by more than 30 points in the polls and by millions of dollars in campaign contributions.

___

Associated Press writer Phil Davis in Tampa contributed to this report.

[NormsRevenge]

U.S. President George W. Bush greets Rep. Katherine Harris (R-FL) at a campaign fundraiser in Tampa, Florida September 21, 2006. Bush was in Tampa supporting Gus Bilirakis in his bid for a seat in Congress. Harris is currently campaigning for a seat in the U.S. Senate. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque (UNITED STATES)

[NormsRevenge]

A late September surprise? ;-)

[ER Doc]

Well, it's about time!

[Ken522]

I wonder what she said to President Bush?

[Rome2000]

"Primaries are a family fight,"

And general elections are a cure for megalomania.

[Godebert]

The liberals and the "open borders" Bush brothers really hate this great Conservative lady.

[Republican Wildcat]

Well, she has been relatively gaffe free for a few weeks now...let's hope she keeps it up. The media will try to destroy her anyway - don't hand them things on a silver platter to use against you.

[MarcusTulliusCicero]

A lesson Senator Allen might want to try to learn!

[quantim]

Ping-a-ling.

If there was ever a 'capture this photo' this is it.

Maybe the RNC has finally realized if they don't sit on on their dang dumb thumbs they could win in places their pointy heads didn't think possible.

[coconutt2000]

I wonder what she said to President Bush?

Probably nothing of consequence. Bush will support her to the hilt now that she's won the nomination.

[NautiNurse]

Thanks for the ping, Friend!

[Clintonfatigued]

She is the nominee, so what else could they do?

To her credit, Harris has avoided any gaffes lately and seems to be improving as a candidate.

[PGalt]

Go Katherine!

[adorno]

She is ahead 100% to 0% in my household poll. There are 3 voters in my home.

[NorCalRepub]

.......try and swing the election then would ya????

[Texasforever]

The liberals and the "open borders" Bush brothers really hate this great Conservative lady.

Yep but she will suck up all of the money she can get.

[Extremely Extreme Extremist]

Yep but she will suck up all of the money she can get.

She has enough to make in the general.

[Texasforever]

She has enough to make in the general.

Look, if she doesn't need the RNC then why is she campaigning with it? Ya'll were bitching last month that the GOP has abandoned her and now that she won the primary, the GOP is helping her but many on this thread are still bitching.

[Democratshavenobrains]

IMO a waste of money. Nelson does a much better job of faking conservatism than Democrats like Cleland and Daschle. Harris isn't exactly a perfect candidate to make up for it either.

[Caipirabob]

All the while here I think this woman has undergone the worst targetting and persecution from the media as anyone ever has.

I can't help but dismiss most of the crap I read about her. We all know how the media presents things and they hate this woman with a passion.

Let's face it, despite the outright fraud and open attempt to criminally manipulate the system, the rats lost the 2K election because this tough lady told them to shove it, she's sticking to the law.

I am obligated to vote for her regardless.

Detractors should reflect for a moment about what the media has done to this woman. They should think about how many lives would have been lost and what the state of this nation would be under a false President Gore.

She deserves at the very least, reconsideration.

[JulieRNR21]

Detractors should reflect for a moment about what the media has done to this woman. They should think about how many lives would have been lost and what the state of this nation would be under a false President Gore.

She deserves at the very least, reconsideration.

---

In addition to her courage & integrity in 2000, her conservative record in Congress and support of our vetrans, the mission in Iraq, the war on terror, etc. has earned our vote.

[Non-Sequitur]

Bush will support her to the hilt now that she's won the nomination.

Anybody tell Alan Schlesinger that?

[Non-Sequitur]

Yep but she will suck up all of the money she can get.

Except she gets none of the money raised yesterday. It goes to the candidate for governor and this local House candidate. All Harris got was a photo op.

[Joe Brower]

Florida Freeper

[Taxman]

Kathryn Harris bump!

[jmaroneps37]

If Rove and the out of touch ( on this issue only ) beltway people would just stop doing the rat's job in this race and stopping this talk that she can't win, her numbers will go up. She may be mortally wounded already, but it's worth a try. If they had gotten on board immediately, maybe we would have the wooden Indian on the ropes where he belongs.

She is only down 9 now and we get 50K new Republicans a year in Fla. Maybe, just maybe.

[bray]

Harris trails Nelson by more than 30 points in the polls

Well 9 pts but why report when you can distort?

Pray for W and Our Troops

[MindBender26]

>Crist introduced the president, then sat behind him with Jeb Bush during his remarks. Harris was among several hundred people in the crowd.

Not a very warm endorsement. New polls out on Tuesday. Latest had her down 9% in her own district. New polls will show results of Nelson's new (and weak) TV commercials. Expect those commercials will be pulled soon.

Also expect some heavyweight Lib-Dems, Hollywood types will do some drive-by campaigning for Nelson about 2 weeks before election. Nelson will not bring up 2000, but they will.

[hawkaw]

I'm not b!tching. In fact I am quite thrilled with this campaign and very glad she is on track with the campaign. I also think she has a little mo behind her right now. If she manages to pull this off the left will be losing their minds!

[pleikumud]

Some say that Nelson trails in the polls by 35 points.

[no dems]

"Primaries are a family fight," Harris said before the Orlando event. "They're an internal little feud, and afterward, we come together so we can win."

Thank you Katherine Harris for "getting in the fight" while the "big boys" of the Florida GOP "cut and ran" like a bunch of little girls and then berated you for taking up the challenge they didn't have the 'nads to take up themselves.

THANK YOU KATHERINE.

[Oystir]

Just because Kitty got invited to a Crist event doesn't mean the GOP is throwing $$$ in the briar patch.

[no dems]

If she manages to pull this off the left will be losing their minds!

As will the FL GOP and the RNC and the NRSCC.

Dear Lord, please let it happen.

[NewLand]

))))) ping (((((

Game on.

[Non-Sequitur]

Some say that Nelson trails in the polls by 35 points.

I would love to see that. What's the source?

[hawkaw]

I will never forget the post 2000 election when she got up and signed off on the election in Florida. I thought Captain Dan the News Man Ra^ther was going to lose his mind.

[RobFromGa]

the 2000 recount that gave Bush the White House

Silly me, I thought it was the initial count that gave the Bush the White House, along with every one of the recounts. It was the voters, not Harris, that selected Bush...

[RobFromGa]

What's the source?

Jack Daniels or Jim Beam would be my guess.

[pleikumud]

I am the source. I'm practicing to be a journalist, using vague phrases like "some say", "in the polls", and deliberately distorting reality.

But seriously, Harris is going to win in November. People in Florida are waking up to the fact that Nelson is an ultraliberal who has done little for six years except follow the socialist Democrat blueprint for failure. He's like a puppet on the string of Clintonistas, Kerry, Kennedy and the rest of the lunatic left.

[Non-Sequitur]

Jack Daniels or Jim Beam would be my guess

Given the claim I'm betting hallucinogens over booze.

[Non-Sequitur]

But seriously, Harris is going to win in November.

But seriously, no she's not. If the GOP thought that there was the slightest chance of her pulling out a win in November then she would be drowining in cash. They would be holding $2 million fund raisers for her and not the candidate for governor who is cruising in the polls. This is for a senate seat, for Christ's sake. Not a governorship or House seat. The GOP leadership have conceded the race. They've written her off and are paying lip service to her campaign so that they don't completely alienate her supporters. And when she gets creamed in November then they can cut her off, shrug their shoulders, and sigh, "If only we had had a real candidate."

[marc costanzo]

FOR HONOR & INTEGRITY

We Republicans and Conservatives finally unite to keep the
Far Left-wing(today's Democrat Party) at bay - -
and keep them from retaking the House & Senate from us Decent Americans - -
and placing Capitol Hill in the hands of those who've been bought out by George Soros ~

The likes of Al Gore don't deserve to be in power ever - -
dear Katherine Harris defeated their cynical ambition before,
it is us to the rest of us to defeat them again and again !

[marc costanzo]

>>But seriously, Harris is going to win in November.
But seriously, no she's not. If the GOP thought that there was the slightest chance of her pulling out a win in November then she would be drowning in cash. They would be holding $2 million fund raisers for her and not the candidate for governor who is cruising in the polls. This is for a senate seat, for Christ's sake. Not a governorship or House seat. The GOP leadership have conceded the race.
<<

Oh Yea Of No Faith !

The GOP have done no such thing ~ at least not as I see it .

She is pulling ahead now 42% to Nelson's 51%
If this trend continues to the end of this month, she will be rolling in the donations ..............

I cannot speak for Florida Voters, nor for the RNC,
but I know that Republicans and Conservatives are men and women of honor and gratitude . .

We remember what Katherine went thru to make sure that Al Gore did not steal the election of 2000 .

>>They've written her off and are paying lip service to her campaign so that they don't completely alienate her supporters. And when she gets creamed in November then they can cut her off, shrug their shoulders, and sigh, "If only we had had a real candidate."<<

You ooze defeatism !!!!!!!!!!!!

What will you say if Rep Katherine Harris does win in November ?

How will you make amends ?
How will all of you naysayers make amends ?

Her chances are not in her favor - not yet -
but her campaign for the U.S. Senate cannot be written off .

It is not over until the Fat Newscaster sings !

[onyx]

BTTT!

[bill1952]

they could win in places their pointy heads didn't think possible.

I couldn't have said it better.

Its a shame they had to bow to the wind instead of acting on principles. America would be well served.

[fieldmarshaldj]

Hey, Marc, I hope she does prove us pundits wrong. I said that a long time ago.

[danamco]

Some GOP leaders feared that Harris — who as Florida secretary of state oversaw the 2000 recount that gave Bush the White House — would send Democrats flocking to the polls to vote against her, dragging down the entire Republican ticket.

Hey Julie. Where do they get this stuff from?

Nothing but wishful thinking from the "drive-by" L.S.M. who also are brainwashing a few of the "ass-naut" cadet bill nelson's detractors and the usual "poll-freaks" talents who now is calling themselves PUNDITS. Wow - ROFLMAO!

Just heard Ms. Kathrine Harris being interviewed by Sean Hannity here in South Florida where Hannity is on from 6 - 9 PM. She rocks and for sure will be our new jr. Senator for Florida by sending the double face b.n. out of D.C. back into "space" for gooooood!!

She is just fabulous and doesn't give a rip about what or how much the L.S.M., and the "pundits" here are saying about her. We are still living in a great Red State with a fantastic grass-rott movement showing up November 7th!!!

[danamco]

Republican Lt. Gov. candidate Jeff Kottkamp was spotted shaking hands and chatting with guests, including Republican U.S. Senate candidate Katherine Harris, at the mega-event with President George Bush and Gov. Jeb Bush, Thursday.A

[potlatch]

HOWDY DOODY

Thanks to 'Spirit' for the photos!

[The Spirit Of Allegiance]

ROFL! Even better than I had imagined!