Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla, flashes a thumbs up as he arrives for the preview of Michael Moore's documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11," in Washington, June 23, 2004. (Photo: AP)
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.
FL republicans carved out an R district just for her.
There was little doubt she would win.
My "long term memory" remembers the FL media getting up and proclaiming that she and Jeb were dead meat in 2002 and they won easily.
But she's still wigged-out.
You are wrong about Katherine Harris, and your snarky descriptions obtained from soundbites aren't informed. I have met her, and she's got my vote. As a matter of fact, I have already voted for her. She is my U.S. Rep. She has done a fine job representing her constituents.
Roger that. You have a special dispensation then.
LOL. It's all in the eyes of the beholder
I didn't dismiss Nelson as a candidate, I just said that Harris, in my opinion, has as good a chance as any at beating him, especially if the President, Jeb, Rove, the RNC, and the State Republican machine get behind her. I wouldn't underestimate Harris as a candidate, I think she showed in 2000 and 2002 she's not afraid to take the heat.
By your logic, should we have dumped President Bush because of all the bad press over the 2000 election, etc. etc.?
To tell the truth, I have never seen anything that indicated she was unpopular, except among Freepers for some reason. I just don't know what she did that was so teerible.
I am proud to say that Katherine Harris is my Congresswoman and I intend to work very hard to make her my Senator!
So who is representing you in Taxachussetts?
By my logic? Obviously you can't grasp my logic. If George W. Bush was an unpopular politician thinking about challenging a sitting president and trailing in the polls, with no indication that he had the skills to turn things around, I would certainly NOT support nominating him as the challenger.
It's more like nominating Newt Gingrich for president. Why would you even go there? He's hated by Democrats, strongly disliked by independents, and not a favorite of even some Republicans.
You haven't seen the polls? Her negatives are high, strong, and steady. She's disliked by independents.
Can a politician overcome that? It's possible -- but very difficult. Harris may well get a chance to try.
Many women are catty & jealous of Harris. BTW I have been up close to her many times & she doesn't wear too much makeup!
The biased media photoshopped her pictures in 2000 and added blue eyeshadow which she never wears! They wanted to make her look like Glenn Close as Curella de Ville.
I'm proud to have her as my Congresswoman and I intend to work very hard to make her my Senator!
I believe that is a fabrication.
Care to source that?
Although it is true that the NRCC had to inject some late cash into Harris's 2002 race because the polling was too close for comfort.
I've never seen those polls. Why do independents hate Harris? She always seemed to act professional when she was Florida SOS. What else could she do? The only people I've ever seen express contempt for her were extreme Dems & Freepers.
President Bush was hated by Dems? Was John McCain abetter candidate for 2004?
Several have been posted on FR. Do a search. Google it if you have to.
Why do independents hate Harris?
I dunno about 'hate', but the negative impression is likely from the negative media & Democrat characterizations that stuck.
WTF are you talking about?
If you're trying to twist an unpopular senatorial candidate into a "polarizing" incumbent President, you're gonna have to try your spinjob with someone else.
'Cause I'm not going along with your poorly conceived analogy.
Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla, flashes a thumbs up as he arrives for the preview of Michael Moore's documentary, "Fahrenheit 9/11," in Washington, June 23, 2004. (Photo: AP)
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