Bush Faces Tricky Political Situation in Florida

New York Times ^ | May 9, 2006 | JIM RUTENBERG

[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

[Californiajones]

Bla bla bla. GOP male chauvinists, is still all I can think, in the non support for Harris. It makes me almost have to confess a sin of hatred for the Bush family -- their sickening disregard on the borders -- their screwed up attitude about overspending and pride about a fake machismo over Iraq -- and then they screw with Katherine Harris? Bush is a phony. Too bad I didn't see it sooner. Too much Rovian pride and too much fake machismo. Laura Bush must be squirming -- he is starting to make me totally sick.

[capt. norm]

This has absolutely nothing to do with either Bush.

We are trying to come up with a candidate that can defeat Bill Nelson this fall. It's just that simple.

You are obviously a (closet) liberal as you are totally lacking in logic.

[Californiajones]

Please, no casting of aspersions or personal attacks. I'm no liberal. But I'm also no Bushbot. He's becoming exactly what the libs said he was, and that is what is upsetting. Where is the conservative promise of limited government, regulated borders, low taxes and no social benefits for illegal immigrants with Bush? -- I realize it took years and years for normalcy in Germany, for instance, after WWII, so I expect no overnight miracles in Iraq but I don't expect Bush to be strutting fake machismo over going over there, either.

As for K Harris, Bush has crapped on her since the beginning. After Friday, if she's the only GOP in the race, I expect Rove to snap to attention and give her some. Otherwise, he's just a freaking Rasputin, just like the libs always said he was.

[A CA Guy]

What is it about her that would leave her hung out to dry?

I don't know the Florida voters, but are they falling all over themselves to get to vote for her or is she a real tough candidate to get elected.

[Lord_Baltar]

This is one of those situations that make me go hmmmmmmmmm.

Her poll numbers have been circling the drain consistantly, and just the day before, even her "friend" Jeb pretty much tossed her under the "zero expectations" bus.

Then she shows up, seemingly in hopes of getting close to the President, and getting some good photo ops.

What she got was a photo op that made her come off looking more than just a bit like the ex-girlfriend who hasn't figured out that she's been dumped on, and refuses to go away in hopes of an imaginary reconciliation.

Not to bag on her, but that's just my observation.

[capt. norm]

As for K Harris, Bush has crapped on her since the beginning

Bush has (intentionally) had nothing to do with this. I know this directly.

You seem to fill in what you don't know anything about, with guesses. That doesn't work. You can't bear witness to what you didn't see or hear.

You seem to have a "conflict of ignorance".

[George W. Bush]

Given how hard a sell she is for many voters, she should have been appointed to a federal agency position or Rove should have found a deep-pockets GOP supporter to quietly give her a very cushy job.

Some political careers you can't save but I don't like the idea that they just dump her. The GOP has plenty of political patronage to spread around. It seems to me that she's more deserving that some of the real hacks they've taken care of.

[Californiajones]

Whether Bush "intentionally" or "unintentionally" crapped on K Harris since 2000 doesn't matter as the outcome is the same: she's been crapped on by Rove and the GOP in their lack of support.

As for how you "know this directly" that Bush unintentionally has crapped upon Ms. Harris, let us all know how you know what the Prez was or wasn't thinking about Ms Harris for the past six years that the White House has stiffed her.

[capt. norm]

Because I am easily a thousand miles closer to what's going on than you are for one. (I actually live here and will be voting here in this election)

Secondly, I know two of the people (Mr. Bense and Ms.Harris) personally.

You are talking through your friggin' hat.

[marc costanzo]

Yes, to quote Kellyanne Conway, "Harris deserves better"