Posted on 08/03/2006 7:57:36 PM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
Undeterred after a week of bad news for her floundering U.S. Senate campaign, Rep. Katherine Harris vowed Thursday she would win and urged supporters not to get discouraged.
"We'll win, so don't listen to the prognosticators, or the pollsters - you can make a poll say anything you want," Harris told about two dozen people at a luncheon.
Earlier this week, a letter from state Republican Party leaders was disclosed that said they could not support her because she can't win. Also, former campaign staff revealed that Harris didn't tell them the campaign received a subpoena as part of a federal corruption investigation.
She says she's not paying attention.
"Every Republican event I go to, I get their overwhelming support," Harris said afterward. "When people hear our message and they know what we stand for, rather than all the caricatures that are created, then we know we're going to win."
Harris, a Republican, has trailed Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in most polls. Fundraising has been slow, GOP leaders tried desperately to find another candidate, and core campaign staff members have quit in recent months.
She has received more attention for $32,000 in illegal contributions she took from a defense contractor who pleaded guilty to bribing another congressman than she has on the issues.
People who once worked for her question why she's hasn't bowed out.
"I believe the reason she's running are two," said former campaign manager Jim Dornan. "She doesn't believe ever that she has done anything wrong and she has an ego that's so outsized it won't allow her to think in a reasonable manner."
The fact that she endured massive criticism during her role overseeing the 2000 presidential recount as Florida's secretary of state may contribute to her belief that she can win, said Virginia Sapiro, a University of Wisconsin political science professor who specializes in political psychology.
"She weathered an incredible onslaught during the 2000 election and she won," Sapiro said. "She was mocked and made fun of, but she won."
Sylvia McClendon, who attended the First Coast Federated Republican Women luncheon, has read what Bush and state party leaders have said about the Harris campaign, but it doesn't matter to her.
"They may honestly feel like she can't win, but I think she can. If she gets the response that I've seen her get, I think she can be victorious. I really do," she said.
Do you still believe?
BUMP to our hero!
I BELIEVE BABY!
LOL. Well I admire your cockeyed optimism.
Bagdad Tammy-Faye Harris has spoken.
I decided not to vote for her when she went all religeous.
Yes, I am a Florida Freeper.
Same reason I will vote for Crist. He was against the 15 year vegetable plan.
THAT IS CUZ SHE WAS SECRETARY STATE OF FLORIDA, SHE COUNTED VOTES FOR BUSH -- BUSH STOLE THE ELECTION --
ALSO THE VOTING MACHINES ARE BUILT BY REPUBLICANS AND RIGGED TO CHANGE WOMEN, CHILDREN, MINORITIES AND OLD PEOPLE'S VOTES FROM DEMOCRAT TO REPUBLICAN
AND STUFF
That's a pretty scummy statement.
Zot
Ping the sensible ones.....
He's running for governor and in his commercial he shouts it out almost Howard Dean style. It's very obnoxious and although I can't stand it, I hope he sticks with it.
As many times as that horrible commercial has been on the air, I never heard or saw any mention of the fact that he's a Democrat....unless it was in some kind of small font that I didn't see.
I had to finally go to his website to confirm it....although the shouting should have given it away.
You ought to be horsewhipped. What a thoroughly despicable remark!
She is dreamming.
...cockeyed being the operative word..........
I've seen it....too many times.
Disgusting.
That's a hoot and a holler.
Kathy, I love ya, baby. I'll vote for you. Hell, I'd drink your bath water if you asked me to, but there's no way you're gonna win this-here 'lection unless they catch Nelson in bed with a dead girl or a live boy.
Ill vote for her but she doesnt have a chance in hell of beating Bill Nelson. She is a lunatic.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.