Posted on 09/11/2006 3:40:06 PM PDT by Alter Kaker
U.S. Senate candidate Katherine Harris said Friday that Gov. Jeb Bush will campaign with her in the next two months, but the state GOP said no such commitment exists.
Harris, appearing in downtown Orlando, said she will travel with Bush and others as she seeks to defeat incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson.
Nelson, meanwhile, formally kicked off his campaign Friday in Tampa, saying he wanted to "take our nation in a new direction."
Touring with Bush, the state's most powerful Republican, would bring Harris badly needed credibility and steady a campaign that, at times, appeared ready to collapse.
But Friday, it was unclear what Harris was talking about. The Governor's Office referred questions about Harris to the state party. And party spokesman Jeff Sadosky said the governor had not agreed to stump with Harris.
"We've not heard anything from the Governor's Office one way or the other," Sadosky said.
If Bush did join Harris, it would be a dramatic turnabout. The governor has criticized her campaign and said he did not think she could beat Nelson.
He said this week he supports her candidacy but has given no indication that he will do any heavy lifting for her.
Republican political consultant Todd Harris -- no relation to the candidate -- said he doesn't expect Bush to go beyond some helpful words. The Harris-Nelson race is too lopsided, he said, and resources are better spent on more competitive races.
"I'd be very surprised if any senior official from the party did much to help her," said Todd Harris, who worked on Bush's 2002 re-election campaign.
Early this week, Bush campaigned with a host of high-profile Republicans, including Charlie Crist, the party's gubernatorial nominee, and Tom Lee, its choice for chief financial officer. Harris was not invited.
(Excerpt) Read more at orlandosentinel.com ...
Sorry, Harris doesn't need the establishment's help.
Okay....... I doubt she's gonna get much with campaign attitudes like that..... It's her show so she can sink or swim or maybe ride that show horse as she sees fit.
Wish we could SEND them into space!! Nice Graphic.
Hey, bill nelson, is that you??? Welcome to the FReepers!!!
Your's is horse manure!!!
The choice is clear which direction Bill Nelson would take our nation in the next six years. He's got the record to prove it:
Bill Nelson voted against the Partial Birth Abortion Ban.
Bill Nelson has an "F" rating with the NRA.
Bill Nelson opposed Justice Alito's nomination to the USSC.
Bill Nelson voted for Illegal Immigrant Amnesty.
Bill Nelson twice voted against the Marriage Amendment.
I heard she said they were going to dig up JPII and have him stump for her as well.
B.S. written in an effort to distract from the conservative issues at stake is noted.
Hi NN.
With an "F" rating from the NRA, perhaps we could drop them a note or two to remind them, and perhaps get some support from them, as well.
- Bill
So you are voting for the ultra liberal Nelson, good conservative networking. Maybe you should try that on DU.
He damn well should.
We all know she's run an awful campaign so far, but we need to rally behind her... She's a solid conservative, and would be heads above Nelson in performance in the Senate...
There's ABSOLUTELY no reason I can think of that should preclude Jeb Bush from actively supporting her whole-heartedly.
Thanks for the ping. I am interested in Florida politics since I live here. Whenever I come to our thread to learn more about the issues and candidates, what I've discovered is hate and rage, name-calling and bitterness. It's ugly.
Florida is a conservative state, and on that basis alone, Harris has a good chance of winning.
A lot of people support her. She has served well in the House and will continue in the Senate.
The venom served up on her by the 2000 losers, needs to be countered, at the highest level.
Republicans country wide encourage you to do all you can to help her campaign.
Nelson's dem machine/the media will make sure Floridians know every time any Republican goes to dinner without inviting Katherine Harris.
Her voting record, her courage and perserverance are important......not who is in her cheering section. She gets my vote.
If Jeb doesn't campaign for her, he doesn't deserve any future support from Rep voters. Harris won the primary fair and square and she is the party's nominee for senator. What kind of crap is Jeb and the Florida GOP trying to pull?
So Harris should grovel to the same establishment that basically ignored her until now?
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