Posted on 05/09/2006 3:54:11 PM PDT by RWR8189
SUN CITY CENTER, Fla., May 9 — President Bush and his brother continued their awkward dance today with Representative Katherine Harris of Florida, whose run for the Republican Senate nomination this year they have met with chilliness.
Ms. Harris was on hand this morning to meet President Bush as he stopped in Tampa en route to a Medicare event in this nearby, senior-rich town — just one day after Governor Jeb Bush said publicly that he did not believe Ms. Harris could win against the Democratic incumbent Senator here, Bill Nelson.
Jeb Bush was there, too, as Ms. Harris waited for the president to walk off Air Force One in Tampa, and the two seemed friendly as they chatted in the receiving line on the tarmac, according to a pool report.
After saying hello to his brother and straightening his tie, the president shook hands with Ms. Harris and spoke with her for roughly 30 seconds, with Ms. Harris talking far more than the president, who did not kiss her or put his arm around her — or do anything more than pat her on the back.
An aide to the president said later that they were only speaking about "the weather," and a spokesman for Ms. Harris refused to divulge the details of the conversation.
The president and his brother have been pushing behind the scenes — but loudly enough for it be common knowledge — for the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives here, Allan Bense, to
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
We need a candidate that can win.
What is the filing deadline?
Jeb Bush for senate!
Friday.
Filing deadline is this Friday I believe.
She could have won if the Republican Party actually gave her some damn support. As it is they've hung her out to dry.
I sure hope they can pull a rabbit out of their hat, otherwise it's Senator Spaceman for six more years down there. And they'll have only themselves to blame.
}:-)4
What's so "tricky" about being honest and telling her she doesn't have a chance?
Polls show Jeb Bush beating Nelson hands down. Why isn't he throwing his hat in the ring? Isn't his term over this year?
I have news for you; President Bush has trickier situations than this to deal with. Let's see, illegal aliens, record high gas prices, the war in Iraq, a gazillion dollar deficit.
Yep........the Kathy Harris thing is definitely a top priority. (Sarc.)
There is better then usual reason for talking about the weather here. We got smacked by a line of severe storms here last night. Large areas of Panama City are still without electricity and I had to survive 14 hours of no broadband Internet access or cable.
Wrong. Take it from someone who is actually here and knows the situation well.
I could easily see though how it could be kinda awkward for GWB as she represented him well in the 2000 election fiasco.
"I helped you when you needed it most and now that I could use yours?"
When you're at 30% and your entire staff walks out on you, how much more of a hint do you need?
Katherine Harris is supported by the State Federated Republican women, which has a lot of influence in the State. Katherine received a standing ovation in the Legislature from this group, and they were not happy with Jeb. He nervously and unannounced made a personal appearance before the group, and fell all over himself making like he is not a traitor to her. Allen Bense could have jumped in this race last year and he did not. He is term limited out and had no other future plans. This will be a stab in the back and most of this should have been handled by the leader of the Party in the State the Highest office holder. he did not. Bense is a Panhandle unknown and will not get my support under any circumstances. I will not reward a political opportunist for backstabbing. Almost any other candidate that could be mentioned is more qualified than Bense. Bense will gain nothing by doing this because Katherine Harris supporters will never vote for him. You cannot follow someone into the voting booth to see how they are voting.All you people putting all your guts in Bense are very deluded. If you think that Harris supporters will be talked into voting for Bense you are very seriously mistaken.
In politics sometimes reality becomes a blur and it takes straight talk to awaken someone to reality. Gore is a pure example, he lost but never got over it.
We're dealing with the political fact that Harris can not get elected. (Same as it was with Bob Dole in 1996)
That is a fact.
So should we jump on her bandwagon and follow her to a big loss in November like a bunch of lemmings, just because we know she deserves it? (and she really does) The only thing standing in her path.....voters.
Let's go ahead and lose this senate seat so we can be nice to Harris....There are other things we could do to show our support but losing an election ain't one of them. Emulating a lemming just isn't in my playbook.
Wasn't here time my friend.
You think you know what you are talking about,but you are beginning to sound like you have pipe dreams that Bense is going to be known by Voters that have no clue who he is. Most Executive Committee members have no clue who he is. You do not even know her, and I am beginning to think you are a defeatist. Allen Bense is not a good candidate, he is a nobody from the panhandle, and will not get the support of a lot of Republicans. You are every bit as negative and a quitter as I have every seen. Katherine Harris has great credentials and is intelligent, and has roots in this State that go back in Democrat and Republican Circles for generations. There is an anger building from her supporters that are more angry at the "piling on, insulting" Republicans than the silent democrats. She has a record of two terms in The Florida House, and he thinks he can just jump into the US Senate ahead of her and many other more qualified people. BS.......Carol Jean Jordan is the head of the RPOF and if she wanted Katherine out she would be out........
Now I can waste my time supporting a candidate who cannot win or find someone who can.
She deserves the job, same as Bob Dole did back in 1996 but I'm tired of supporting scarificial candidates that can not get elected.
How much time and money do you think we should waste on her campaign?
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