GOP can't elude Harris vs. Nelson (Breaking News: Peter Monroe to challenge Harris for GOP)

SP TIMES ^ | 5/11/06

[SoFloFreeper]

WASHINGTON - A desperate last-ditch Republican effort to replace Rep. Katherine Harris as the party's nominee for the U.S. Senate abruptly failed Wednesday when Florida House Speaker Allan Bense announced that he would not run.

[SoFloFreeper]

Peter Monroe is a Tampa-area developer. He is reportedly GOING TO CHALLENGE KATHERINE HARRIS for the GOP nomination.

[MineralMan]

Yes, yes. So, someone's going to step up to the plate, finally. I think it's a little too late for that, though. Looks to me like Nelson's got a lock on this.

[Joe Brower]

"Peter Monroe is a Tampa-area developer."

Never heard of him.

The Florida GOP sure seems dead-set on cutting itself off at the knees where this year's Senate race is concerned. It's absolutely weird, and more than a little frustrating.

Florida Freeper

[Kuksool]

We have a challenger to Katherine Harris.

[kingattax]

astrobill is laughin his flightsuit off at all this

[ClarenceThomasfan]

It's about time. Jeb Bush was practically begging someone to run against Harris when he said, "I'll support her if no one else runs against her. I have to support the Republican nominee."

Maybe we will have a chance in that state after all.

[Joe Brower]

"We have a challenger to Katherine Harris."

Wrong.

[Joe Brower]

"Maybe we will have a chance in that state after all."

We had a chance with Ms. Harris, and we still do. Watch and learn.

Of course, our chances would be considerably better if the Florida GOP wasn't adamant about not just shooting itself in the foot, but blowing its whole leg off.

[Joe Brower]

"astrobill is laughin his flightsuit off at all this"

I would be too. "Never interrupt an enemy when he's making a mistake", to quote Napoleon. That works both ways.

[Always Right]

This Peter Monroe does not sound like a serious challenger, but I think Katherine needs somebody to run against her. She needs to start getting her numbers up, and a race might help her.

[italianquaker]

more developers, just what our state needs

[xzins]

Sounds like Harris has the cash and the desire.

I wonder what they don't like about her?

[George W. Bush]

I think the national GOP is convinced Harris can't win but would bring angry Dim voters to the polls just because she is so hated by them. They're probably concentrating on winning the races they can win if she isn't the lighting rod for high Dim turnout in the fall elections.

Hence, their choice of one sacrifice candidate over another sacrifice candidate. It's strategery of some kind.

[Joe Brower]

"It's strategery of some kind."

Maybe, maybe not. In any case, by not letting the ground troops who have been utterly instrumental in winning the last few elections in on the *big secret*, the GOP is blowing it, big time.

As for Harris being a "lightning rod", so what? Harris still kicked their butts in both 2002 and 2004.

[George W. Bush]

As for Harris being a "lightning rod", so what? Harris still kicked their butts in both 2002 and 2004.

In a House race we knew she could win. Very different from a statewide election for senator with much bigger money involved.

The Dims will pour out of their homes to vote against her. I think the fear is she will inspire record Dim turnout in an off-year election and hurt other GOP candidates.

I'm just assuming here that there is some actual political reason why they won't support her. It can't just be some blind hatred of someone who has very loyally supported the GOP.

[Happy Valley Dude]

Harris still kicked their butts in both 2002 and 2004.

She won election to an open seat in Congress in a district which has many more Republican voters than Democratic voters. Winning a state-wide race against an incumbent is a much different story.

[CharlesWayneCT]

The democrats are arguing this same strategy, not running for some congressional seats in Virginia where there are large republican majorities, in the hopes of depressing turnout there and getting their Senate nominee a victory over George Allen.

[George W. Bush]

Exactly. I'm just saying there has to be some political reason they won't support her.

Interesting that the Dims are following the same keep-the-opposition-asleep strategy in Virginia.

[Clintonfatigued]

It also appears that state Representative Dennis Ross will challenge Katherine Harris in the GOP primary. It doesn't matter. Look for both parties to concentrate their resources to Senate races that are competitive.

Katherine Harris is the Republican nominee, end of story. If this were an episode of "The Simpsons", Nelson Muntz would be laughing at the GOP for being stuck with such a lemon.

[HitmanLV]

When KH loses by a wide margin, who will the 'KH or Die' posse blame? They can't hold their candidate responsible - who is the fall guy (not that it matters)?