[MindBender26]

This story is totally incorrect. I have close friends, who I speak with on a daily basis, and work with on a weekly basis, at the highest levels of her organization.

She will NOT run for Senate. She realizes she is an 11 month Congresswoman who would energize every Democratic vote in the state. Her photograph next to Bush's as they campaigned together, as they would have to, would be a red flag every time it ran on TV or in a newspaper.

That would sink the Senate race, and the possibly Presidential race in Florida.... and remember, success in 2004 runs down I-4.

The Prez needs more votes than the Republicans. He needs the undecides, and sorry to say, right now, Katherine drives them away in droves. Give her time, and she can win a Senate race, but in this Presidential year, it is poison for everyone.

This story is wrong. There is no such consideration. It is an old trial balloon story, and is way past time, and completely wrong..... and we should all be very thankful of that.

[Republican Wildcat]

I certainly hope you are right. It would be really disappointing if it turned out she was as stupid as making this run would be.

[MonroeDNA]

Thanks!

[ClintonBeGone]

The Prez needs more votes than the Republicans. He needs the undecides, and sorry to say, right now, Katherine drives them away in droves.

Funny how the statistics don't back you up one bit. Tell those friends/voices in high places they're betting wrong on this fine lady.

[BlueNgold]

Mindbender: Where does Joe S fit into all of this? He is still an (R) Powerbroker, and he owns the panhandle. Any word on how he's leaning or who he's backing?

[NonValueAdded]

I hppe you are right because I agree with your assessment.

I must also renew my complaint that the Republicans are doing a LOUSY job about developing a pipeline of quality candidates. We make so much fun of the RATs and the nine dwarfs fighting amongst themselves. Well, what is going to happen for 2008? It is going to start day one of Bush's next term. I'm afraid the republican senate race for Graham's seat will be the model.

I don't mean to imply we should have an heir-apparent for each office. The idea that it is person x's turn is what gave us Bob Dole. Still, we need to have a leadership plan where we are cycling people through the right experiences to be ready for the next step. Another term or two for KH and she is ready to take on Nelson when he's up for re-election.

[Kevin Curry]

The Prez needs more votes than the Republicans.

In the aftermath of the campaign finance reform, Medicare prescription drug entitlement, and guest worker amnesty-by-installment debacles, he certainly does.

But Rove's fronting Mel Martinez for the Senate is race-based politics pure and simple. While Martinez may be well qualified, I seriously doubt that Rove would be pushing his candidacy if he were not Hispanic.

[bootless]

Thanks for your assessment. I'm happy to hear that. I like KH a lot, and respect her for doing her job in a hurricane of Dem attacks. But 2004 is not her year ....

[ElkGroveDan]

The Prez needs more votes than the Republicans. He needs the undecideds, and sorry to say, right now, Katherine drives them away in droves.

This is that same mentality that has them traipsing around the country shoving liberal Republicans down the throats of conservatives.

The flaw in this reasoning is the assumption that there is a set group of voters that always votes at exactly the same rate of turnout and that so-called undecideds fear conservatives and all kinds of other simplistic clap trap.

Its all about turnout and when you have a lightening rod on your ticket it energizes YOUR BASE. They don't just vote for you, they nag their bar buddies to get out and vote on election day, or they put a van pool together because they are motivated and excited about a contentious battle.

When you take your base for granted and put up a mashed-potatoes take-it-or-leave it candidate you may get the party loyalists, but you lose your GOTV energy in the ho-hum campaign. Worse, if you anger your base as Bush did yesterday, your base decides "to hell with them all, I'm going fishing on election day."

Go Katherine, RUN! We need the energy and controversy to drive up our turnout.

[itsahoot]

The Prez needs more votes than the Republicans

I don't understand why you say this, didn't he pick up all the illegal immigrant votes yesterday?

[I got the rope]

The Prez needs more votes than the Republicans. He needs the undecides, and sorry to say, right now, Katherine drives them away in droves. Give her time, and she can win a Senate race, but in this Presidential year, it is poison for everyone.

Who are you...Dick Morris? This is the dumbest thing I've ever read.

Bush will win Florida...because it's a growing conservative state. Look at the trends for the last few elections.

[clintonh8r]

Are you sure? Totally sure?