Posted on 06/30/2006 10:57:33 AM PDT by devane617
TALLAHASSEE - Even among Republicans, U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris's U.S. Senate bid is in trouble: A poll today shows her getting only 35 percent of the vote in the GOP primary in September -- enough to beat her no-name opponents, but not even close to dominating the field.
And matched up against incumbent Bill Nelson, Harris remains far behind if the election were held today. Nelson gets 59 percent to Harris' 26 percent in the latest Quinnipiac University poll of Florida voters.
''She's stuck where she's stuck,'' said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Connecticut-based polling institute. ``There are a lot of Republicans skeptical about her candidacy.''
The poll numbers are consistent with nearly every other survey -- including a number of those done by her former staff, who advised her to get out of the race. A year ago, a Quinnipiac poll found Nelson leading Harris 50-38, and in six of their polls since, he has steadily gained while she has lost support.
A major reason for the troubles is all the negative press Harris has received. She unknowingly took illegal campaign contributions from a convicted defense contractor involved in a massive congressional bribery scandal, she scared residents of a small Indiana town when she incorrectly said a terrorism plot aimed at them had been foiledand, most recently, suggested that congressional Florida Democrats support her when none do.
''Every day, it's something new with her,'' said Ed Rollins, a top Reagan Revolution strategist who quit his post as Harris' top adviser in March.
''The bottom line, it doesn't make what difference she does between now and November because it's over,'' Rollins said. ``She's about 30 points behind in every poll. She'll get 40 percent of the vote. National Republicans and the White House have written her off.''
Rollins said that he went to work for Harris because she had a rockstar quality in Republican circles for her role in certifying George W. Bush president in the disputed 2000 elections. He said that Nelson's support was soft, a sentiment reflected in the Quinnipiac poll in which only 47 percent of respondents said they wanted to see Nelson re-elected, with 31 percent calling for the election of ''someone else'' and 23 percent not sure or not responding.
Still, 40 percent of people view the mild-mannered incumbent favorably, with only 11 percent having an unfavorable opinion. By contrast, Harris' numbers are a nightmare for a candidate, with fewer people -- 20 percent -- having a favorable opinion than the 34 percent who have an unfavorable view.
Barely anyone knows her Republican challengers: 86 percent don't know enough about LeRoy Collins Jr.; 72 percent say that about William McBride, and 83 percent about Peter Monroe.
Quinnipiac surveyed 1,311 people for the poll, which has an error margin of 2.7 percent for general election questions and 4.3 percent for primary race questions.
They don't have to be. This very article lets the truth slip out inadvertantly:
"A major reason for the troubles is all the negative press Harris has received."
"Nagative press" indeed, and the reason is that every leftmedia cohort from Tallahassee to Key West hates Ms. Harris with a vengeance born of six years worth of agitprop about the "stolen 2000 election". Every good story, every tale of victory is buried, while every failing or perceived failing is magnified a hundred-fold. Brainwashed little tools of the left that they are, they'd like to see her dead.
However, at this juncture, it would seem that over a half-decade of thinly-veiled hate has also brainwashed many of the so-called "free-thinking conservatives" around here.
Has anybody looked at Bill Nelson lately? He looks like a smokin' liberal to me.
Harris should be given every encouragement to stay in the race -- it'll be interesting to see how low her support will go. It's hard to dip below 26%. Can she get below 20%?
After getting two weird responses from Harris die hards, I'm getting a sense for what is going wrong in the efforts to dispose of Nelson.
Like I said in my post, at one time I was a fan, but now I want her to get out of the way, she is going to cost the conservative movement a Senate seat.
Yes, she is widely disliked.
Is there a more unpopular person in Florida than Katherine Harris???
Why would one get the feeling that when you were "back in university", you paid even less attention to who she was than you do to what is going on against Christians in today's world?
I have always liked Harris and still do. But with numbers such as she has, I don't understand her staying in the race. She has been very loyal to her party and I appreciate that. I haven't understood why the party has not stood behind her. But now that she seems not to be getting the support from voters that she will need, I'm not sure why she stays in. I'm just assuming that there's a lot there going on behind the scenes that we know nothing about. I'd like to see a Republican in Nelson's seat.
What is weird about two people supporting Harris who live in Harris' US Congressional District, have been very pleased with her representation over the years, and who know her personally?
What is difference between your post and the liberal media? Why do you aid and abet the liberal media?
She agrees with me, at least, right down the line. I find it hard to believe that Florida Republicans would feel more comfortable with Nelson, but that is what this "news" article attempts to peddle.
And maybe its right. But it makes no sense. No politician is a perfect vessel. But if you find one that believes in the same things you do, you're making a big mistake to turn your back on them, especially when the alternative is opposed to those very things you say you believe.
Joe, could you please add me to your ping list?
What a completely stupid post.
Grow up.
LOL!
"After getting two weird responses from Harris die hards"
Make that three weird responses.
I've met her and she's a very nice person. Very gracious. But it appears that she is not a good statewide candidate. The more time goes by, the lower her numbers go. Ed Rollins leaving the campaign back in March isn't necessarily the end of her campaign, but it sure doesn't auger well for the rest of the fight.
Who else in FL can defeat Nelson?
So.... Katherine Harris?
McBride is a much better candidate if only because people don't dislike him like they do Harris. He at least has potential for improvement. There is absolutely NO WAY Harris will get to 50%. 45% would be a miracle. 40% if she's lucky. Right now she's at 26%. It's pathetic!
Please do me the courtesy of answering my simple question, you are responding to most everyone else.
Can't live by your own demands...
Can you take a long walk on a short pier?
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