Challenger for Harris still possible

The SHT (that's "Sarasota Herald-Tribune") ^ | May 12, 2006 | The Stalker and the Hitman

[Joe Brower]

Challenger for Harris still possible
Professor predicts GOP will "try to get somebody in there"
By JEREMY "Stalker" WALLACE [jeremy.wallace@heraldtribune.com] and JOE "Hitman" FOLLICK [jfollick@earthlink.net]
Sarasota Herald-Tribune
May 12, 2006

With hours remaining until today's filing deadline, Republicans were still unsure whether another candidate would emerge to challenge Longboat Key Republican Katherine Harris for the U.S. Senate nomination.

On Thursday, Republican Party of Florida officials again refused to say whether Harris would be their candidate in November to take on Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat. A party spokesman said the party will "wait and see" what happens by today's noon deadline.

Even though Florida House Speaker Allan Bense turned down requests by Gov. Jeb Bush and other party leaders to challenge Harris in a Sept. 5 primary, there were signs party leaders were still scouting for a last-minute challenger to Harris.

"They are going to try to get somebody in there," said Susan MacManus, a political science professor at the University of South Florida.

Republicans have grown increasingly concerned about Harris' chances of beating Nelson, and fear she's done so poorly she can hurt other Republican candidates on the November ballot.

Little-known state Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, emerged Thursday as the latest name to surface in the GOP rumor mill as a possible challenger for Harris. Ross said Thursday that Republican leaders approached him last weekend about a possible run. But when he and Gov. Jeb Bush discussed the matter briefly on Monday, Bush said Bense would enter the race.

Bense, however, announced on Wednesday that he wouldn't jump in the race. After his announcement, Ross said he began receiving calls immediately, including one from Republican Party of Florida Chairwoman Carole Jean Jordan.

Ross acknowledged Thursday afternoon that a campaign would be "very, very difficult," but he was considering if his entry would provide the party with a better chance of defeating Nelson.

"I'm not saying I'm the one that can save it, but with my commitment to the party, I can't just sit back and say, 'So, we lose,'" he said.

Polls have shown Harris trailing Nelson by as much as 32 percentage points, and she has struggled to raise money for the campaign.

She also has struggled to distance herself from questions about her dealings with a corrupt defense contractor, who in February admitted in court to giving her $32,000 in illegal campaign donations.

Ross said he had not heard back from Bush by late Thursday afternoon.

"I think they're tired of wooing everybody," he said.

The pressures on Ross were exacerbated by the fading health of his mother. Ross was at the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa on Thursday awaiting updates on her condition.

Ross opted against a run this year for the state's chief financial officer post, saying such a run would have forced him to liquidate his shares of his law firm. The run for Senate would not create that conflict of interest, he said.

Ross was realistic about his chances, saying he didn't want to be a "sacrificial lamb," but also noted the benefits of garnering the experience and the party's good will for future campaigns.

"That's the upside of the downside," Ross said.

[paul51]

the truth is and always has been that she is not senate material

And nelson is? take a look at the current crop of us senators. Harris would be a major upgrade in most cases. I'm amazed the people of Florida don't support her and get her elected.

[jmaroneps37]

At 12:01 AM tonight, Katherine will be free to start turning the tables on the wooden Indian and Rove.

[Joe Brower]

"Lots of folks"? Like who? Besides the defeatists here on FR, that is?

As for public gaffes, so what? How does that set her apart from any other politician who's ever run for office, not the least being our current President?

Sorry, you're selling, but I'm not buying.

[HitmanLV]

There isn't one poll that shows her as a strong candidate. Not one. Her deficiencies are remarkable (approaching a 25-30 point spread). That's lots of folks, and they're not all on FR.

Her gaffes make her look absurd and unintentionally comedic. While everyone has gaffes, KH has chained several gaffes together that define her as an easily befuddled lightweight.

That may or may not be accurate, but perception is more important than reality in these cases. There is a very strong perception that KH is a carnival sideshow clown who doesn't deserve the public trust. Indeed, she makes Nelson look better to more voters than not.

You don't have to buy it for it to be true. It just is true.

[Joe Brower]

Polls are meaningless. They reflected similar standings in the weeks before the last election. She crushed the opposition. So much for polls. You need to make better choices from where you receive your "information".

She has made a few stumbles that I have known of; nothing like you describe. Got any data to back up your claim? I'm not believing it without proof, the burden of which is on you for making the statement.

As for your post being "true", it's not. Seeing as you don't even live in Florida, I find it odd that you express such an interest, albeit defeatist, in this race.

See you in November, after the big win.

[Wings-n-Wind]

SHT = Sarasota Herald Tribune....

...Not to be confused.... with the former small-but-effective military unit indigenous to the training command at NAS Pensacola--

With two old hummers (C47/DC3) and serveal crews assigned, the unit was tasked with daily flying engines, parts and supplies for the Navy Training Command aircraft between the training bases located in Pensacola, Meridian, MS, and Kingsville/Beeville TX.

This very busy detachment was lacking any significant name for itself -- Except the usual military alphabet soup uniquely complicated by the naval aviation culture --

Sooooooo.... predictably, they did what military folks do --

With a bit of ingenuity, comaraderie, fueled by really cold beer and bar food, and exacerbated by audacious bravado, they made a name for themselves, complete with a really sharp flight-suit patch.

They figured out some creative acronym for short-haul interstate transportation service.

True story... I used to bum rides on the DC3 when I was a student there.

Pardon the interruption of this thread with ancient military memories/humor....

Nice day to all

[HitmanLV]

How far off do you think the polls are?

I know that the conventional wisdom on FR is to dismiss polls that show that a GOPer stinks, but seriously, if a spread is 25 or 30 points, even if the poll is way off, the candidate is still broadly very unpopular.

So just how meaningless are the polls? Are they as much as 40 or 50% off? How is that possible?

As for her gaffes, she was mocked freely for her makeup style in 2000. This was really an overstatement on the part of the media - then again, she made it easier for them to make fun or her, rather than harder.

How about her arched back, 'look at mommy' performance on H&C a short while back? She arched her back and kept posing for the camera to flatter her bustline. Senate material, huh?

How about the 'now you see me, now you don't' pledge to invest $10 million of her own money in her campaign? Or was it her own money? Inheritance? Private bankroll? Did she even know what she was talking about?

How about how KH ignored her staff's recommendation to reject a defense contractor's $10 million appropriation request, which is now (legitimately) gaining scrutiny?

How about how many of her longtime staff and campaign folks are abandoning ship, including people who have been with her for a decade or more? They were all secret RINOs? Or maybe those closest to her realize she isn't ready for prime time and a certain loser?

There is a strong perception that KH is a joke. She hasn't done much to counter that perception. Many male Freepers like pictures of her on a horse. I have consistently suggested they get out more.

[Joe Brower]

From everthing you've written, I must say that you really need to follow your own advice to "get out more" and change the sources that you use for "information". If the NYT-owned enemedia had written that she eats kittens, I have no doubt that would have made your list as well.

Being from Nevada as you are, I'd be working to get rid of Harry Reid, rather than be endlessly ranting about a Senate race on the other side of the continent. Never to early to start.

Be seeing you.

[VRWCmember]

That didn't stop her from winning election to the House in both 2002 and 2004.

There's a huge difference between winning a house seat in a solidly GOP district and winning a statewide race for Senate. As much as I admire and like Katherine Harris, I would hope that if she can't win the statewide Senate race that another candidate is nominated that has a better chance of defeating Nelson.

[HitmanLV]

What did I say that was factually wrong? You can use quote marks around the word "information" as much as you want, but it doesn't help your case and it doesn't make any of those facts any less true.

The thing is, you asked me for specifics, and when I gave you specifics you just dismiss them. Astounding.

Denial isn't a river in Egypt.

Harry Reid is up for election in four years, I will concern myself about it then. As for my interest, with the GOP doing poorly, every Senate race is every Republican's business. With a real danger of losing the House and/or the Senate, every race is my business. I want to see the GOP win, not satisfy some strange misplaced fixation of the "Katherine Harris or Bust" crew.

[Joe Brower]

"What did I say that was factually wrong?"

Most of what you stated was from the attack-playbook of the DNC propaganda machine, aka, the NYT and its subsidaries. Your hook, line and sinker acceptance of their pejoratives and focus is a dead giveaway.

Methinks you've bought the BS without even realizing it. Easy enough to do when all you are hearing is the Big Lie repeated over and over again. From your far-off location in Nevada, it's not surprising that's all you've heard. Being here in the Florida trenches, the view here is with our own eyes. Big difference, that.

So much for your "specifics". They are what I expected. That is why I dismiss them.

If you want to see the GOP win, then stop attacking the only viable candidate their going to have. Deeds, not words.

[Mind-numbed Robot]

One of my complaints about the Republican Party is its selecting which candidates to back, often to the detriment of conservatism. Spector over Thune comes to mind but there are others.

Their failure to support Harris really, really irritates me. Not only do they owe her big time, but she is a great and effective conservative. I hope she wins despite them, and then tells them to stick it when they violate her standards but still want her hekp.

[Joe Brower]

From where I stand, it's painfully obvious to me that the biggest problem Ms. Harris has had with her Senate bid is the backstabbing of her own party. They've done little more than punch holes in the only lifeboat they had.

Brilliant strategy, that.

[HitmanLV]

Look, that they are things that the DNC uses in their playbook against KH doesn't make them, by definition, wrong.

If you can't cope with that, of course you would dismiss them. Otherwise you would have to consider them. Can't have that, right?

Specifically, what gaffe did I list is inaccurate?

[Joe Brower]

" Specifically, what gaffe did I list is inaccurate?"

Well, first off you quoted how the enemedia "mocked freely for her makeup style in 2000". That's a gaffe? The fact that they freely and belligerently engaged in overt character assassination and ad hominem attacks? I'd go on, but I must be off to work.

Oh, you mentioned Reid has four more years, eh? So where were you in 2004 that Nevada lost that one? Like I said before, it's never to early to start working on that. A fair man will ensure his own backyard is clean before complaining about the neighbors.

[HitmanLV]

Well, first off you quoted how the enemedia "mocked freely for her makeup style in 2000". That's a gaffe? The fact that they freely and belligerently engaged in overt character assassination and ad hominem attacks? I'd go on, but I must be off to work.

That was a gaffe because she made it easier for the media to make fun of her, not harder. She didn't look nearly as bad as she was made out to look, but it's her responsibility. What about the rest? Oh yea, you have to run. Well there you go.

[Joe Brower]

"That was a gaffe because she made it easier for the media to make fun of her, not harder. She didn't look nearly as bad as she was made out to look, but it's her responsibility."

If you really believe that, then you really have bought the BS. If the media could have just had her assassinated and gotten away with it, they would have.

Incredible. We have met the enemy and it is us.

[HitmanLV]

Of course I really believe that it's incumbent on GOPers and conservatives to make it more difficult for the (generally hostile) media to diminish them. We know we won't get a fair deal, and are held to a different standard. We just have to be that much better. KH isn't that much better.

Pretending that KH's deficiencies don't exist won't lead you t a place worth getting to.

[napscoordinator]

I still have yet to hear from anyone one valid reason why on Earth the Florida GOP is so intent on stabbing Katherine Harris in the back.


I know what you mean. It is amazing how they are acting. I don't get it. Nelson won't have to touch a dollar due to all the Harris bashing being done by the Republicans. He must be thrilled. I can't believe it.

[NCWarrior]

I want to see the GOP win, not satisfy some strange misplaced fixation of the "Katherine Harris or Bust" crew.

Shouldn't that be 'and'?