Posted on 08/18/2006 7:00:26 AM PDT by Happy Valley Dude
By ANITA KUMAR, Times Staff Writer Published August 18, 2006
ORLANDO - U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris came to Sen. Bill Nelson's hometown Thursday to try to prove she could unseat him in the fall, but the help she hoped for didn't come.
It was expected to be one of Harris' biggest events leading up to the Republican Senate primary next month, with a host of prominent public officials standing by her side.
But no elected official showed up at Orlando Executive Airport for Harris' fly-in - just 30 to 40 people, in a hangar that could hold hundreds.
Those who did attend were passionate in their support for the two-term congresswoman from Longboat Key who faces three opponents in the Sept. 5 primary. They wore Harris T-shirts and stickers, waved flags, greeted her with hugs and circled her as she told them about her priorities, accused Nelson of being liberal and criticized liberal media.
"She is awesome," beamed Linda Grier, president of Greater Osceola Federated Republican Women.
In press releases and in e-mail to supporters across the state, Harris' beleaguered campaign touted the event as a rally hosted by U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez, Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings and a slew of members of Congress and the Florida Legislature.
Martinez's office said the senator was in Orlando but unable to come at the last minute because of meetings. Jennings' public schedule never showed she was expected to attend. U.S. Rep. Tom Feeney's office said he had an appointment with his dermatologist.
"They confirmed that they would be here," Harris told reporters later. "I don't know what the problem is."
She said she thought some people didn't come because a tree fell on the original hangar location and they didn't know where the rally was moved to.
In a statement, Jennings said she still supported Harris.
"I've worked with Katherine since she began her political career and no one will work harder for Florida than Katherine Harris," Jennings wrote.
Also included in the announcement touting the rally was state Sen. Daniel Webster. But Webster encouraged Harris opponent Will McBride to enter the race and still supports him "without reservation," said Jack St. Martin, McBride's campaign manager. "It's just sad Katherine Harris has gotten to the point where she makes up this kind of information."
Besides McBride, an Orlando attorney, Harris is running in the primary against retired Adm. LeRoy Collins of Tampa and Safety Harbor developer Peter Monroe. The winner faces Nelson in November.
Anita Kumar can be reached at 202 463-0576 or akumar@sptimes.com.
[Last modified August 18, 2006, 08:00:39]
Oopsie!
"They confirmed that they would be here," Harris told reporters later. "I don't know what the problem is."
Why doesn't this poor woman just pack it up and go home.
I am incensed about the way the GOP is treating Harris. She showed a lot of backbone in 2000 when she did her job in spite of media outrages against her for her looks, dress, etc. Jeb Bush should be supportig her, as well as the rest of them.
vaudine
ditto
I'm surprised you feel that way. I think most folks would agree that the GOP should not be supporting one candidate over the other during a party primary. Once the voters choose the candidate for the general election, that's the time for the party establishment to step in and throw their support behind the primary winner.
The gratitude of princes...
It must've been a mighty big tree or the world's smallest airplane hangar.
Once upon a time in America, "doing your job" was expected of you and "doing your job" did not make you any more qualified than anybody else for a seat in the U.S. Senate.
she could have stayed in the House for many years of conservative votes, but her ego and ambition (to my regret)got in the way :(
Harris Speaks on the War on Terrorism
Washington, Jun 15 -
Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of this strong, proactive defense of our liberties and freedoms from the preying forces of Islamic radicals in their jihad against the core values of our Western civilization.
We did not choose this war. They picked the fight. The events of September 11th represented the final moment of spending our days as bystanders.
Mr. Speaker, this debate is not about the choices which precipitated the war in Iraq. The choice we face today - and Americans will face in November - is between two visions - full commitment to protect our nation and prosecute the global war against terrorists, or complete surrender to Islamic extremists who want to destroy us. There is no middle ground.
Without maintaining pressure upon this global war, we face the grave risk of producing homegrown terrorism. These radical Islamists would rather take their fight to our streets, to our neighborhoods, and to our cities.
The necessity of a proactive, robust strategy recently was reiterated by an ally too well-acquainted with the threat posed by radicalized forces. British Prime Minister Tony Blair said, "We have to act, not react; we have to do so on the basis of prediction not certainty; and such action will often, usually indeed, be outside of our own territory”.
Are we safer today? Absolutely. Should we cut and run form Iraq? NEVER!
As Winston Churchill once said, "We shall not fail or falter; we shall not weaken or tire. Neither the sudden shock of battle nor the long-drawn trials of vigilance and exertion will wear us down. Give us the tools and we will finish the job."
I reserve the balance of my time and I yield the floor.
doing your job is a major miracle these days.
She had it all with the house seat. She has no kids, so she could afford to wait. Was she worried that people would forget her?
This is just like the last time a woman ran against a democrat. Someone correct me but then the woman got 30 percent vs Grahm?
Washington, Jul 28 - Representative Katherine Harris (R-FL) today voted for passage of the Pension Protection Act of 2006, legislation aimed at creating safeguards to strengthen and improve pension plans by using commonsense and fundamental reforms.
“Men and women who have worked hard their whole lives should not have to face the loss of their retirement security because of outdated laws and regulations,” said Harris. “This legislation will protect the retirement nest egg of these workers and retirees while preserving the competitiveness of U.S. companies.”
In addition, the Pension Protection Act of 2006 will:
Ø Ensure employers properly and adequately fund their worker pension plans;
Ø Protect taxpayers from costly bailouts of the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation;
Ø Require companies to provide more information to workers about the status of their pension plans; and
Ø Make commonsense modifications to defined contribution laws to encourage greater personal savings for retirement and other needs.
Hey, when you've got to go to the dermatologist, you've got to go to the dermatologist.
"I am incensed about the way the GOP is treating Harris."
_______________________________
I agree!
Unless she holds some really radical positions that I am unaware of, her treatment is a disgrace. I think her treatment is a perfect example of how the PUBS have "morphed" into careerists.
She is a babe!
Anymore photo's?
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