Bense bows out in race against Harris

Bradenton.com ^ | Thu, Aug. 04, 2005 | STEPHEN MAJORS

[NautiNurse]

Florida House Speaker Allan Bense said Wednesday he won't run for the U.S. Senate in 2006, leaving U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris alone for now in her quest to defeat incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson.

Despite strong encouragement from the White House and Gov. Jeb Bush, Bense said his commitment to the speaker's job came before a consuming Senate race.

"I believe it would be extremely difficult to fulfill my duties as speaker while also running for the United States Senate in a campaign that will attract national attention and require a huge commitment of time and energy," Bense, R-Panama City, said in a statement.

Republican leaders began courting Bense to run for the seat out of concern that Harris, R-Sarasota - who played a role in stopping the ballot recount in the contested 2000 presidential election - would be a lightning rod for negative sentiment from Democrats.

Harris consistently trumped Bense, who admitted he had low name recognition, in the polls. The same polls have shown Harris consistently trailing Nelson.

The White House and the National Republican Senatorial Committee viewed Bense as a strong candidate who could overcome low name recognition with the financial support of the party.

Republicans across the nation have set their sights on Nelson, who is Florida's only statewide Democrat and has job approval ratings below 50 percent.

Bense's announcement Wednesday did not generate much reaction from either campaign.

"Allan Bense is a living example of leadership, solidly grounded in character and integrity," Harris said in a statement. "I have long admired him and deeply value his friendship."

Nelson's statement mirrored what he has said about the race.

"Regardless of who our opponent is, we expect it's going to be a tough race," he said. "Between now and election time, I'm just going to keep doing the best job I can for the people of Florida."

While Bense's exit clears the way for Harris to receive the Republican nomination, it places additional pressure on GOP leaders to decide whether there is another available candidate with a better chance at unseating Nelson. The number of choices is waning.

U.S. Rep. Mark Foley, who has flirted with the idea of running for the Senate, has about $2 million in campaign funds, according to David Johnson, a Republican strategist and pollster with Strategic Vision LLC in Atlanta.

While Foley, R-West Palm Beach, also does not fare well against Harris in polling, his money gives him the opportunity to buy name recognition, Johnson said.

For the past several months, retired U.S. Army General Tommy Franks, the former head of U.S. Central Command, has been thrown into the mix of candidates, but he has consistently declined to show an interest in the race.

With Attorney General Charlie Crist leading among Republicans for governor in 2006, speculation could shift to Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher. A poll Johnson's company conducted in June showed Crist and Gallagher ahead of Nelson by three and four points, respectively.

But Gallagher spokesman Alberto Martinez said Wednesday that Gallagher is "100 percent committed" to becoming governor.

Johnson said the White House believes that Harris can't win the race. He also said Gov. Bush is the only name that could beat Harris in a primary. The situation will force Republican leaders to show just how much confidence they do or don't have in Harris, Johnson said.

But Bush, according to spokesman Russell Schweiss, has "no interest" in running for the Senate.

"The majority of the American people who first saw Katherine Harris saw her on television," Johnson said. "Statements like that just bring back all the images the late-night comedians made of her."

But Johnson said Nelson should avoid the issue because he could be portrayed as taking shots at a woman over issues rife with sexism and lacking in substance.

[NautiNurse]

Thanks from some ingrates to a faithful servant who stood solidly in the line of fire to help Bush overcome Democrat attempts to steal the election from him.

It's disappointing to see FReepers slam her too.

[ZULU]

I'd never slam her.

I sent her flowers in thanks for what she had done and suffered.

So soon some people forget.

[NeoCaveman]

The only way Gallagher runs for Senate is with no primary. He couldn't win a primary because he is pro abortion. Period.

I'm really sorry to hear that about Gallagher, especially after reading Crist's comments about Judge Greer. What's a pro-lifer to do.

[NeoCaveman]

It's disappointing to see FReepers slam her too.

KH is a hero. I'm glad she is getting her chance. I am so sick of D.C. interference in primaries.

[1Old Pro]

I still do not see the big problem with Harris. I know she has the baggage from the 2000 election, but she has also proven to be electable state-wide.

I tend to agree. Has there been any polls for a Harris Nelson match-up?

[Surtur]

I may not be a ten but the boys say i clean up good
And if i gave em half a chance for some rowdy romance you know they would

[Eagle of Liberty]

The only one that I could find had it:

Nelson - 50
Harris - 38

[Truth29]

"KH is a hero." Ditto. If she had not stood her ground, President Gore might be looking for some of his missing cogs today.

[gop_gene]

[i]Unfortunately, it looks like we will run the one candidate that Nelson has a good chance to beat. Katherine Harris's ego may well cost us this seat, and it should have been a gimme.[/i]

It may very well be ego, but if noone else that stands a better/good shot at winning runs, what choice do we have?

[1Old Pro]

The only one that I could find had it: Nelson - 50 Harris - 38

That's pretty close given no campaigning has happened.