Posted on 06/29/2005 4:58:34 PM PDT by RWR8189
Frustrated with the White House and a key Republican, supporters of Rep. Katherine Harris' (R-Fla.) 2006 Senate campaign lashed out at the administration yesterday for seeking to convince another prominent GOP official to enter the race.
"It's unimaginable that the White House folks and the National Republican Senatorial Committee would be so disloyal to Katherine Harris, especially after all she has done for the Bush family and the Republican Party," a Florida political operative who supports Harris said. "It's unconscionable and a stab in the back."
Harris backers are irritated that State House Speaker Allan Bense met with White House chief of staff Karl Rove and NRSC Chairwoman Elizabeth Dole (R-N.C.) this week to discuss challenging Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) next year.
The operative added, "If it is true, they should be ashamed and embarrassed, considering she stepped aside at their request for the president and Sen. Mel Martinez (R-Fla.) in 2004. It's her turn."
People loyal to Harris claim her move not to run last year demonstrated her loyalty, noting that the president has already won his reelection bid. Some in the White House were concerned that a Harris run in 2004 would have hurt Bush's chances in the Sunshine State.
Sources said Harris has hired several political heavyweights, including Edward Rollins, who has served in three Republican presidential administrations and was President Ronald Reagan's campaign director for his 1984 re-election campaign. Rollins also served as campaign manager for Ross Perot's presidential bid in 1992.
Others who are on Harris's team include Ed Goeas of the Tarrance Group, a highly regarded pollster, and Adam Goodman of the Victory Group, a media consultant who has worked with many Republicans.
Jim Foster of James Foster and Associates will be in charge of Harris' direct mail campaign. Harris is also being advised by two lobbyists -- Ben McKay of the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America and Dan Berger with America's Community Bankers.
Some GOP officials fear that Harris, who became a household name during the prolonged 2000 presidential election, is too polarizing a figure to defeat Nelson.
Others Republicans disagree, with one saying that Democrats and pundits "said the exact same thing about Bush's re-election in 2004…The polarization is a made-up word by people who fear her."
Another GOP official said, "Polarizing can be a plus," explaining that she has strong support from many Republicans and hope to enhance her negative numbers over the next 16 months.
Florida strategists who back Harris stress that the congresswoman is not frustrated, adding that she knows what she was getting into.
They also point out that Harris is used to being an underdog, with one commenting, "The Party establishment primaried when she ran for State Senate. She won. The Party establishment supported her primary opponent when she ran statewide for Secretary of State. She won….Don't bet against Katherine, she will win again in '06."
Bense has not yet decided to enter the race. But if he does, a Bense-Harris showdown could lead to a bitter GOP primary race that could damage Republican hopes to unseat Nelson.
Brian Nick An NRSC spokesman confirmed its meeting with Bense, which was reported by Roll Call yesterday. Nick added " it is common" and "a normal occurrence" for the NRSC to meet with prospective candidates
A GOP poll released in February showed Harris as a favorite to grab the GOP nomination in Florida , but also indicated she would lose to Nelson by 7 percent. Harris supporters note that Martinez was trailing in his race last year before surging in the last several weeks.
In March, Rove twice met with Harris, triggering speculation that he was urging her not to run. While Harris disputed that account at the time, Republicans in Washington and Florida maintained that the White House wanted her to remain in the House.
Taylor Gross, a White House spokesman, said: "At this time, the president has not taken a position on the upcoming primary. The White House has met with numerous candidates who have shown interest in the primary."
The White House also indicated that Harris is one of those candidates.
I like her but I don't think she can beat Nelson. She's another McCollum. More name recognition, though. She might be able to pull it out if she campaigns well.
We got one seat back, we need to get the other one as well. Nelson is not overwhelming popular here. He is beatable.
I wish Jeb would run. He's term-limited for governor. He's very popular and has done a great job. He was magnificent during the hurricanes. Demonstrated real leadership qualities.
It would be nice to see either of the Generals Schwarzkopf or Franks run.
Jeb's failure to run for this seat shows a lack of leadership.
Umm, no.. the one on the left is Katherine Harris.
You're cold. :)
Yes, Katherine is polarizing, but so are the mean spirited and childish attacks on her. The DUmmies will be out in force to "freep" her. They won't hold back on their hateful rhetoric. In fact, remember last year, some clown tried to run her over with a car at a campaign stop. If the DUmmies try this stunt again, then all anti-Katherine Harris rhetoric will turn into sympathy for her. Katherine will win the Senate seat if the Far Left allows its anger to consume them. (And they're quite close to that boiling point right now.)
""They can't get jack done with 55 should we assume they could with 58?""
where have you been recently?
Last I checked a bunch of very conservative nominess were confirmed for lifetime judgeships..adn Roberts is headed for confirmation, unless you oppose him as well
i think the problem the GOP faces is that many on the far right who helped the party win are new to politics and dont understand we dont live in a Westminister system where the party that wins the elction gets everything it wants.
(As long as the looks weren't "deceiving," if you know what I mean, and I think you do.)
You've just been reported for "ABUSE," Mate.
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