Posted on 05/08/2006 6:09:37 PM PDT by TroubleBoy
Bush says Harris can't win
BY BILL KACZOR
ASSOCIATED PRESS TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Jeb Bush said Monday that U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris has dropped so low in public opinion polls she cannot beat Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November.
"I just don't think she can win," Bush said at the Capitol in his strongest statement yet about his fellow Republican's struggling campaign.
The governor has made no secret that he hopes House Speaker Allan Bense will challenge Harris for the Republican nomination. Bense has not made up his mind, his wife, Tonie, said Monday from their Panama City home. The deadline for entering September's primary is Friday.
"With all due respect to the governor ... we know we can win," Harris told reporters Monday after filing her qualifying papers.
Harris has been dogged by staff turnover and her acceptance of $32,000 in illegal campaign contributions from defense contractor Mitchell Wade, who pleaded guilty to bribing former U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif.
Bush also noted that polls show Harris running about 30 points behind Nelson.
"There's not a complicated reason," Bush said of his assessment that she can't beat Nelson. "It's just that's she's not gained any traction, and it seems that, unfortunately through no fault of her own perhaps, the press coverage is all about the problems in her campaign."
(Excerpt) Read more at heraldtribune.com ...
The utter lack of honor and loyalty being displayed here towards Ms. Harris has me rather pissed off. The ignorant statements by so many of her detractors here is also nothing to admire.
I just don't see myself sacrificing anything close to the wage-paying hours on this years' campaigns as I have over the last three election cycles.
I don't know what the so-called "GOP leadership" is thinking, but it's apparent to me that they are determined to step on thier collective pee-pees this time around.
Amen. I'm annoyed enough to return the RNC requests for $$$ in shredded format.
"Oh their was some courage involved - "
Stop and think. Sure she took some heat for what she did. But can you imagine how high the heat would have been if she hadn't? She knew that.
And I'd sure like to see some of that "Bush loyalty" thing toward Harris. She deserves it.
Why don't they help it, the weenies. I don't understand. Instead of announcing that her candidacy is dead, why don't they DO something? Why don't they put themselves (Bush and brother in the WH) behind her candidacy, for Heaven's sake?
There are days when I don't like either of the Bush brothers very much and today is one of them. Phooey.
" Yes, sometimes I lose faith in our Democracy -
we keep getting(electing) leaders that have to compromise themselves to the point they are all just politicos !"
Have a bit of faith, Marc. The problems we are faced with in the voting booth were aptly described by one General George Pattonover half a century ago:
"Politicians are the lowest form of human life. Liberal Democrats are the lowest form of politician."
Somehow, some way, we will even survive the present Libroids like the HillaBeast, Lincoln Chaffee, Arlen Spector, and other assorted, sordid 'missing links'.
I have always like Harris as well. But, I'm sure she's been paid back many times for her loyalty. Also, don't forget the situation in 2000 is what made her. She would have never gotten this far without some loyalty.
Slow connection, bad keyboard, many errors.
So why doesn't he run himself then?
So why doesn't he run himself then?
The RNC is a rogue outfit. Hang in there Katy, you can win and hand the Democrats a defeat they won't recover from for years. And in the process take the GOP dictators down a notch.
Harris' critics have reached a new low.
If Bense run he simply won't get the support of the conservative base who currently supports Harris.
What the Harris bashers are saying is this: Bense may hypothetically lose by a smaller percentage than Harris may hypothetically lose by to Nelson, and that makes us feel warm and fuzzy because the objective of Harris not being in the race is met.
She's a fine candidate and let's not forget she was in the US House of Representatives and her constituents in her district support and admire her.
If Bense thinks he can waltz in now, he's just wasting his time.
And the president's poll ratings are sinking daily? The Bushes who are both terming out have no room to talk.
"In private, Mr. Rollins recalls Ms. Harris saying God told her to stay in the race -- God wanted her to be a senator.
"The strategist says he responded: "Maybe God wants Nelson to stay a senator and that's why he's encouraging you to stay in."
And then there is the no more fringe benefits work environment issue:
"When news broke about Mr. Wade, the Harris campaign was in turmoil. Ms. Harris, increasingly critical of her staff, turned more frequently to Dale Burroughs, a spiritual adviser to the campaign and founder of the Biblical Heritage Institute for the Behavioral Sciences, a Christian counseling service.
"Ms. Burroughs told Ms. Harris that the campaign was not a "holy place" because women were dressed provocatively and the men swore and drank, according to Mr. Rollins. Mr. Ingram, the Harris spokesman, says Ms. Burroughs's role in the campaign has been exaggerated. Ms. Burroughs didn't return calls seeking comment."
Doens't matter anymore. Allan Bense announced that he wouldn't run.
I posted that article, but it dissappeared. Don't know why.
She did snub the president and not attend his Sun City Medicare RX event. They met at the airport but she didn't go on to Sun City. She can take it and she can dish it out.
Anyway, I met Tom Gallagher last night. He reminded me of Sean Hannity for some reason, he's smart and has a quick wit. Charlie Crist didn't bother to go to the mtg even though it was in his hometown. One person showed up for Crist. Everybody else in the room was for Gallagher.
I agree with Jeb. She's a great person and all, but we really don't need another Alan Keyes-style stomping.
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