Posted on 08/03/2006 6:26:21 AM PDT by Happy Valley Dude
Amid bad press, four more staff members have left Katherine Harris' U.S. Senate campaign, for various reasons.
Four more staffers have left Katherine Harris' troubled U.S. Senate campaign, which is putting an upbeat face on the reams of bad publicity that have rolled in with renewed force this week.
''We're excited,'' said spokeswoman Jennifer Marks, touting the endorsement of Florida Right to Life on Wednesday.
''We have new management, a new staff and we're energized to see the congresswoman through the election,'' she said.
Over the past week, some of the staffers left without explanation, but at least one confessed to others of being fed up. Another is a National Guard soldier who was deployed to Baghdad.
The staffers range from a field director in the prized Orlando media market to a fundraising assistant.
Meantime, the bombshells kept dropping on Harris' campaign this week.
Her campaign had to beat back reports of a letter from state and national Republican leaders who said in May she should quit the race.
And then her former campaign manager, Glenn Hodas, disclosed that Harris hid a subpoena she received in a federal corruption probe tied to convicted defense contractor Mitchell Wade, who has admitted he gave Harris $32,000 in illegal campaign contributions.
Harris' campaign has insisted she's not only innocent, but has been told by the Department of Justice that she's not a target of the investigation.
Hodas, her third campaign manager, said he was surprised when he stumbled across the billing item ''DOJ subpoena'' from the law firm of Patton Boggs, which her campaign has paid more than $40,000 for legal work.
''I figured if she's not telling me this, what else isn't she telling me? Am I, or people that work for me, at risk?'' Hodas said he asked at the time.
He said he learned of the newest round of departures, which have affected Harris' campaign three times so far, and could only shake his head.
''This is like a platoon from World War I with a 150 percent attrition rate. I feel like General Pershing watching waves of my good colleagues going to their end,'' Hodas said.
The latest staff to leave:
• Jeremy Fairley, Orlando regional field coordinator.
• Kristy Hedrick, staff assistant.
• Ashley Fishborn, campaign manager's assistant.
• Kristin Cochran, fundraising staffer.
I agree.
Harris' campaign is the equivalent of a non-stop trainwreck in motion.
I am trying to figure out if her campaign was doomed because the party did not support her.
Or that the party declined to support her because they knew things that we didn't.
Either way, her campaign is a disaster.
What I don't understand is why. Doesn't she deserve massive support based on her election 2000 performance alone. It has been a mystery to me why the party has kept her at arms length. Insights ?
Come on, you know the answer....
I wish that Jeb would get into the race. I've heard he doesn't want the job... but he could win it... hold the job for a few months... start a "listening tour" to decide whether to run for president... then resign to give it the attention it deserves (and the new Gov can hand pick a Republican who would have plenty of time to build up an incumbent's record)... then decide against running for president ("at this time").
Party support or no party support, staff chanages can't be blamed on the party. There's only one person to lay the blame on when you have staff quitting in droves.
Plus this little revelation about "hiding" a subpoena is just a reflection of the problems facing the campaign, and that can't be blamed on "party support" or lack thereof, either.
She could have had a nice "safe" House seat, but it seems to me that ambition has triumphed over common sense.
What performance? She did her job as Florida SecState -- certifying results. Why should that entitle her to support for other jobs?
Booze? I'm not sure heroin would help this...although it has been very entertaining to watch...
Over the past week, some of the staffers left without explanation, but at least one confessed to others of being fed up. Another is a National Guard soldier who was deployed to Baghdad.
She's gonna make Alan Keyes look like William the Conqueror.
Doing your job and what is right deserves thanks, not patronage. Conservatism is supposed to be merit-based.
It has been a mystery to me why the party has kept her at arms length.
"Dear Abby, I've been standing in the rain for months. For some reason I am always getting wet. Can you explain this mystery?"
Did I note a slight hint of skepticism?
Yep... my guess too.
Can she still drop out? or is it too late to replace her?
IF she dropped out.
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