Posted on 01/21/2006 3:29:05 PM PST by JulieRNR21
Florida Republicans rally around Katherine Harris
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. -
If there was any remaining doubt that Florida's top Republican leaders weren't behind Katherine Harris's run for U.S. Senate, those leaders did their best Saturday to cast it aside.
Gov. Jeb Bush said he would campaign for Harris and encouraged a crowded room of Republican activists to do the same. At a separate rally following his speech, Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings gave strong praise to Harris and told her, "Go, run and win."
And supporters scoffed at the nay-sayers who think she can't win and the polls showing Harris far behind incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson.
"People say to me 'How can she win, she's 20 points behind in the polls?' and I say, 'Polls mean nothing at this point in the campaign,'" said Ed Rollins, who was President Reagan's political director. "The way she's going to win is the same way Jeb won (and) President Bush won. It's you Floridians who turn out and vote."
During her speech, which took place as the Republican Party of Florida wrapped up its quarterly meeting, Harris said she would dedicate the rest of her campaign to her father's memory. George Harris, 71, died unexpectedly eight days earlier.
"He was the kindest, most humble man I've ever known. He always looked at the best in people and he believed that life should always be about helping everyone else," Harris said. "Like my father, I'm making this campaign all about people."
Her remarks were missing the politically charged attacks on Nelson that she unfurled when announcing her candidacy last August. Instead, she gave a positive message of achieving dreams and an expression of thanks to supporters.
"We need your help, I'm going to ask so very much of you, but I promise you that I'll give you so very, very much in return when we get to the United States Senate," she said.
After the speech, she said, "I just don't have it in me to be political right now."
Many waited for autographs and photos with Harris when she finished speaking. Once the crowd left, she reflected more on her father, at times becoming choked up.
"He's my best friend and now he's with me all the time," said Harris, who then laughed fondly as she described him standing on a street corner in an Uncle Sam outfit while helping her campaign.
She also talked about how as a banker, he helped many poor people who otherwise wouldn't have qualified for loans meet their needs.
"When they came back to try to pay a little bit back, he would talk to them and explain to them that the way to pay him back was they had to make certain in the future that they did this for somebody else, and he wouldn't let them pay him back," she said. "I want to make sure that every day in my life that I help people in their individual lives."
The campaign to this point hasn't been easy for Harris. GOP leaders in Washington searched for another candidate, convinced that voters were polarized by her role as Florida's secretary of state in the 2000 presidential election recount and that she could not win.
Fundraising has also gone slower than she expected and she acknowledged Saturday that she gave her campaign $250,000 during the final quarter of last year. She said, however, that she raised more than $1 million in other cash contributions - double the amount she raised in her first quarter of fundraising.
That compares to more than $6 million Nelson had in the bank by the end of September.
Harris shrugged off the numbers.
"We know that when we turn out the Republicans, we'll be victorious," she said.
This article reflects the Katherine Harris I know. She's going to need help from Republicans & Conservatives all over Florida & our country to defeat liberal Dem Nelson.
Remember that we need more Republican Senators to stop the Dems' filibusters and to get the President's Judicial nominees confirmed....................Julie
Go here to join her Campaign:
She'll win.
One of her problems is that FL voters THINK Nelson is a conservative Democrat.
let's put our wallets where our convictions lie, this is a seat that we have no reason loosing, except for conservative apathy:
http://www.electharris.org/
We need to inform more Floridians that Nelson has a more liberal voting record than Hillary and that Harris is the true Conservative.
BTW Katherine is a devout Christian who has spoken before & been honored by the Christian Coalition!
Gov. Jeb Bush said he would campaign for Harris and encouraged a crowded room of Republican activists to do the same. At a separate rally following his speech, Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings gave strong praise to Harris and told her, "Go, run and win."
Please read my comments in Post #1 and go to her website to join the Campaign.
Thanks for the links. I just contributed $50 -- which otherwise might have gone to a lost cause (The California Republican Party).
Not according to the Christian Coalition!
They view Katherine Harris as 'a pro-life; pro marriage between one man & one woman'....true conservative!
We need to remind voters of Nelsons history, and the way he has consistantly
"TOED" the Lib line. He has been very quiet these last 6 months.
He knows that by spewing the "Ted Kennedy" talking points,
he wont have a chance.
We have to keep the pressure on...Go Kathrine Go
Go Katherine.
THANK YOU, TOM! IT WILL BE MONEY WELL SPENT!
Does she really stand a chance, or are you just whistling past the graveyard?
She isn't going to win in the general election. A shame - handing the senate seat back to Nelson.
With a smile.
'Silent Bill' Nelson just announced he will vote AGAINST ALITO........Hope that wakes up Floridians that he's in Ted's & Chuckie's pocket!
If Mel Martinez could 'squeak by' Betty Castor.....Katherine can do it too.
She a terrific campaigner & has a good record in Congress to run on!
The key is getting out the FL GOP!
Oh great, another NIMBY Senator who'll vote to keep America dependent on her foreign enemies for fossil fuels.
And where does Katherine stand on immigration/borders?
>>"People say to me 'How can she win, she's 20 points behind in the polls?' and I say, 'Polls mean nothing at this point in the campaign,'" said Ed Rollins, who was President Reagan's political director. "The way she's going to win is the same way Jeb won (and) President Bush won. It's you Floridians who turn out and vote." <<
Poll are fluid . "In the end, the only poll that counts is
the election ballot"- ironically a Dem named Truman said that !
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.