Posted on 07/27/2006 8:37:52 AM PDT by PDR
Katherine Harris' former communications director has joined the campaign of one of her Republican opponents for the U.S. Senate, LeRoy Collins Jr.
Chris Ingram, who was one of five senior staffers to leave Harris' campaign two weeks ago, is now Collins' campaign manager, according to a news release from the Collins camp.
"Admiral Collins has the leadership abilities, integrity, and common-sense values Florida voters need for effective representation in Washington," Ingram said in the statement. "Governor Bush was right when he said, '(Katherine Harris) can't win.' At 30 points down in the polls, it is safe to say a vote for her in the primary is as good as a vote for Bill Nelson. LeRoy Collins has the experience and determination to give Republicans their best shot at defeating Nelson this fall."
Harris' campaign has seen two separate waves of staff departures since she began her run for the Senate about a year ago. Some of those workers have gone on to speak negatively of her in public, an unusual step for campaign staffers.
It is also rare for a former staffer to join an opponent's campaign in the middle of an election season, political campaign staffers say.
"It is highly unusual to switch campaigns before the primary is even decided," said Fred Piccolo Jr., a former Harris staffer who now is campaign manager for 13th District Republican congressional candidate Tramm Hudson. "On top of that, Katherine gave him (Ingram) his opportunity in Florida. To join one of her opponents only makes this all the more unusual."
In addition to Harris and Collins, Safety Harbor developer Peter Monroe and Windermere attorney Will McBride are running as Republicans for the U.S. Senate.
Collins for Senate!
Admiral Collins? That's pretty impressive....
I didnt even know Katherine had any serious opposition for the nomination. Is it possible she might lose the primary? I suppose the GOP infighting would still make it really tough to beat Nelson. What a shame. In a state like FL where the GOP is growing they should have had a good shot at taking this seat. Maybe in 2012.
Excuse me, if Harris is down 30 points how many points down is Collins?
lol
She doesn't. Token opposition who signed up at the last minute after the heavy-hitters waffled, that's all.
Is it possible she might lose the primary?
Against these clowns? BWAHAHAHAHAHA...these people are no-names. FL conservatives are behind Harris 100%.
Considering how poorly the Harris campaign is this Collins guy could probably do no worse does not seem to have nearly as much baggage
I appreciate Collins' military service. But on the issues
National Security, energy, and immigration - Harris has a record of championing these already. When it boils down to it, FL conservatives are simply not going to vote for someone they know little about and who entered the race at the last minute. Collins is a nice guy, but you know what they say about nice guys.
"Tthis guy leaves Harris campaign because she's supposedly 30 points down in the polls and goes to work for some guy who's probably 50 points down in the polls?"
um you do know that this Collins guy is probably down by that much because no one has heard of him and therefore no one really has an opinion of him one way or the other. if he can mount a credible well funded campaign he could probably do better than Harris at this point. Do not get me wrong personally i like Harris but it seems that her campaign is one disaster after another a fresh start may give us better odds in Florida.
Not according to this article. Harris is only getting 36 percent of the vote in the primary.
....hope he is more coherent then Admiral Stockdale...
.with all due respect, I've read many an article that Harris' voting base is diminishing.....not knocking her at all, but she does seem to be running a miserable campaign for whatever reason...hell, even the White House acknowledges that.....
Boy, Harris cannot catch a break. I'm thinking she may not even win the primary. She should have stuck with her House seat.
I think Harris could have held her House seat as long as she wanted it..... I am leaning towards Will McBride.. any suggestions out there?
Wow, another liberal news article from a FL rag featuring a biased poll. I'm impressed.
Here's the difference. Lack of name recognition can in time be fixed. But a widely recognized, and (almost) universally disliked, candidate cannot win no matter how much time passes.
PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 25, 2006
For more information:
Stephanie Steele
813-258-5858
Stephanie@schifinolee.com
TAMPA - LeRoy Collins, Jr., republican candidate for U.S. Senate, received the endorsements of republican political muscle on July 24 in Tallahassee. Former Florida attorney general and secretary of state, Jim Smith, and former Florida comptroller, Bob Milligan, both endorsed Collins in the 10 a.m. press conference held at the Florida Press Center on E. College St.
"I think there is a fresh breeze blowing when people like LeRoy Collins come forward and are willing to offer themselves," Smith said. "I think the public is frankly tired of full-time politicians, people that really have never done anything except feed at the public trough."
Collins said that his primary concern was national security and terrorism stating “I am the only candidate with the military experience necessary to ensure our nation’s security. Harris has no experience and neither does McBride.”
Other issues he discussed included immigration, making America “energy independent,” the environment and healthcare.
“We must become energy independent and as soon as possible,” said Collins who feels that we are funding the war on terror against the United States by continuing to purchase oil from countries who hate us.
Collins also claims to be “hard-nosed” on the issue of immigration stating that illegal immigrants, “must conform to the legal process.”
Collins, Jr. is a moderate republican whose platform issues include national security, immigration, energy independence, a “new view of Cuba,” health care and environmental control. Please visit www.leroycollins.org to see how he stands on these and other issues.
LeRoy Collins, Jr. in brief: Collins, Jr. is a fifth-generation Floridian from a family dedicated to public service. Son of Florida’s beloved 33rd governor, LeRoy Collins, Collins, Jr. is a U.S. Naval Academy graduate who served in the Navy and Navy Reserve (submarines) for 34 years, retiring as a two-star admiral. His civilian careers have been in the high-tech financial services and real estate industries and have spanned 36 years.
Here's his campaign website: http://www.leroycollins.org/
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