Posted on 08/17/2005 6:52:26 AM PDT by bilhosty
Last week, GOP Rep. Katherine Harris of Florida kicked off her campaign to unseat Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson. While this should be a much-ballyhooed quest in Republican circles, too few GOP insiders seem to be excited by Harris’s launch. This is a mistake.
Katherine Harris is going to win this election for reasons that I’ll outline in this column. But before making the case that needs to be made, let me make a few disclosures. Yes, I did poll for Harris’s successful bids for secretary of state and Congress. But since 2003, I have not served Harris, providing me an opportunity for an objective view of her candidacy.
Harris’s advantages start with her celebrity status, coupled with the low expectations that surround her bid. Let’s face it: Voters today are more interested in celebrities than in politicians. More Americans read People than Time. More people follow “American Idol” than C-SPAN’s “Road to the White House.”
Celebrity commands attention. When Katherine Harris comes to town, people will want to get in on the action. And because of the nature of criticism that the media have aimed at Harris, people will expect her to disappoint.
But when voters see Katherine as she really is — a smart, vivacious and engaging woman — they will be shocked. Pleasantly shocked. There is no way that Katherine Harris won’t exceed expectations, and that’s a major plus.
Expectations are a competitive advantage too. Bill Nelson will always underperform his résumé. Floridians accustomed to statewide officeholders of the stature of Jeb Bush, Bob Graham, Lawton Chiles and even lately Mel Martinez will be disappointed every time they are exposed to the incumbent Democrat. He’s a yawner. “How did this guy ever win?” they’ll wonder. Nelson reached the Senate only by besting an even more boring former Rep. Bill McCollum.
Her stock's already low why would you try to sell short?
Jeb and the rest of Florida's Republican establishment dislike Harris intensely. She's a conservative in a party of squishy moderates....and that scares them. Anyone with convictions scares a moderate. The Demonicrats hate her guts, but she's a fighter, which is in the end what really matters......I think she'll win, and she'll show the Republicans for what they've become: wussy, whiny, worthless, unprincipaled moderates. And THAT should scare the Bushes s*itless.
>I am not sure that I am convinced but I guess there is hope.
she wants to win. IMO not as badly as the Witch from New York/Arkansas/Illinois/etc, but that counts for a lot in a challenger.
This seat would be a nice pick-up. It should be a GOP seat.
She's to the left of Jeb as far as I know.
It's not about ideology. Bense was a conservative.
It's about someone who was dragged through the mud, and doubting she has the skills to clean herself up enough to beat Nelson.
I hope she wins! I've already contributed my money to her campaign and volunteered to work for her election!
The party's at fault here. If the party establishment is convinced that Harris can't beat Nelson, then let them put their candidate into the primary against her. So far, the party hasn't offered a serious alternative to Harris.
harris would kick hillary's fat ass. but that doesn't mean I trust her.
At this point, we have little choice. She's the best candidate running.
She probably is, but she is still a good Republican and huge improvement over Nelson. Harris would definitely not be one of those RINO Senators making deals with the Democrats on filibusters.
It's about someone who was dragged through the mud, and doubting she has the skills to clean herself up enough to beat Nelson.
Harris has already cleaned herself up. Certainly the rabid Bush haters still hate Harris passionately, but they would never vote GOP anyways. Harris name-recognition and character give her a real good chance at winning. She is a classy lady and that will show in debates.
She remains unpopular with independents as well, and some Republicans. She has a LOT of work to do, much like Hillary did in NY in 2000, but in a much less one-sided state.
Doesn't quite look Senatorial. But, notice how her make up is not "colorized".
When has Katherine Harris ever come acress as nuts???? She is usually well composed and quite articulate.
The latest polling shows the race at 46% for Nelson, 39% for Harris. That is really very good shape for someone who just announced running up against an imcumbant. Surely, if Jeb announced he would have a lead, but I think barring Jeb, Harris is the best chance.
W owes his election to Harris. In the face of slander and personal invective aimed in her direction, she did not knuckle under to the corrupt RAT "recount" scheme. While I understand the GOP's desire to field the strongest candidate, in a figurative sense Harris took a bullet for W, and she is now being treated shabbily by her party.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.