Same here...In fact, I already did...took my spouse and my son and told them if they valued their life, they better vote straight R.
Posted on 11/04/2006 8:09:47 AM PST by dukeman
Even critics are impressed with her debate performances, but experts say it's just too late
ORLANDO -- Virtually out of money, abandoned by state Republican leaders and ridiculed by her detractors, Rep. Katherine Harris is refusing to fade into the background in the final days of her U.S. Senate bid.
Instead, she is becoming more visible, scheduling one of her busiest series of public appearances in weeks and advertising on television for the first time in months.
Even Harris' critics say she has surprised them in her two debates against Sen. Bill Nelson, avoiding the gaffes that have dogged her in the past and showing a greater command of the issues.
"It was somewhat of a success for her," said her former spokesman Chris Ingram, who was one of several campaign staffers to quit the campaign during its struggles. "She did really well for Katherine."
If Harris had presented the public image voters saw in the final debate Wednesday, it is likely some staffers would not have bailed on her, Ingram said.
But most political analysts said Harris' efforts are too little, too late. She trails Nelson by as much as 30 points in the latest polls.
"There's no reason to think she can turn it around," said Nathan Gonzales, political editor of the nonpartisan Rothenberg Report.
"A large majority of voters in Florida have made up their mind about Katherine Harris. There's nothing she can do."
Jim Dornan, Harris' former campaign manager, who was part of a wave of staffers who quit a year ago, agreed that Harris has wasted too much time and needed to focus on rallying independent voters months ago.
"She's begun to get her campaign together, but it's entirely too late," he said.
But political experts said Harris probably won some votes Wednesday in the last of two debates with Nelson.
Seated across from Nelson at a table, Harris challenged Nelson's voting record on tax increases and defended her proposal to dismantle the federal income tax in favor of a national sales tax.
When NBC host and moderator Tim Russert cited studies that say the plan only benefit the rich, Harris rebutted him, citing facts and figures that previously she has struggled to articulate.
"If only she could rewind the clock about eight months," said Aubrey Jewett, assistant professor of political science at the University of Central Florida, who attended the debate Wednesday.
Ingram, her former campaign spokesman, said Harris appeared more viable in the debates than the caricature trumpeted by her critics.
"To a less-informed voter, she probably came across certainly much better," Ingram said. "She didn't trip over herself and create new problems."
Harris' new strategy for the last five days of campaigning is to take her message to public forums for the first time in weeks.
After stumping at church gatherings and other events closed to the media, Harris plans to wave signs and shake hands on a college campus and a downtown business area in Lakeland today.
On Saturday, she plans to attend a Clearwater gun show and a "Harris for Senate" rally at Sumter County's GOP headquarters.
At the same time, Harris seems to be preparing her supporters for defeat.
She confirmed on Wednesday that she is writing a "tell-all" book about the conspiracy to undermine her Senate bid.
While she would not go into detail, Harris has said for months she has copies of former staffers' e-mails that prove they were working against her and for the competition.
"You'll just have to wait and see," she said, when asked about the book after Wednesday's debate.
But Ingram, who worked for Harris from April to July, said he saw no evidence of a conspiracy, even though he said Harris instructed him to help search for incriminating e-mails.
He noted the numerous staffers who bailed on Harris' campaign earlier this year are all die-hard Republicans who wouldn't work for a Democrat behind her back.
"It's just typical Katherine, playing the victim," Ingram said.
"Katherine, say whatever you want, I could care less. No one's interested. No one cares."
Just bringing up the book could be a mistake, because it reminds voters of the "soap opera" that has been surrounding Harris for months, Jewett said.
"It's a distraction," he said.
Loyality is a one-way street with the Bushes it seems.
She deserved a lot better support. IMO
"Never give in, never, never, never, never; in nothing, great or small--never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense." - Sir Winston Leonard Spenser Churchill, Prime Minister, United Kingdom, 1941-1946
That would have shown them!
"Well, one thing for sure, the gal's got balls."
That's not all she has!
And they wonder why people don't want to put their necks out and run for office.
One thing for sure, if she wins this, it sure won't something the GOP can claim any credit for. It'll be Providence all over again.
After her practically singlehandedly having the guts in '00 to follow the rule of law and keep Al Gore from stealing the election, this is the thanks she gets from Republicans. Shameful, all of them!!
She got my vote.
Nice pic...I had not seen it until now.
Thanks
Oh yeah--She could have let the Democrats hide a few bllots, or, let them "Disqualify " ballots (Like they did for the Military in some parts of Florida).
She made them count honestly.
In the face of an overwhelmingly Liberal region, that took some courage.
If I could paint this photo on velvet, I could make a fortune selling it to these sniffers.
Leni
Same here...In fact, I already did...took my spouse and my son and told them if they valued their life, they better vote straight R.
Get an organization together, go en mass to the local party convention in the spring, get on the nominating committee from your district and replace the back office RINO SCUM. That is how it works.
I am so disgusted with the fl gop and jeb with this.
2 faced nelson could of been beat with some support and I am still waiting for the 1st harris commercial
You said it best
I had the pleasure of voting absentee ballot last week; straight R, including Ms. Harris! I also had the tremendous pleasure of voting NOT to reinstate the 3 RAT-appointed FL supreme court justices who were up for reinstatement. All were prominent anti-Bush in the 2000 election struggle and all have been prominent advocates of the moonbat agenda here in the Sunshine state. Katherine Harris may be somehwat immature politically, but my piece of toast this morning had more personality and creative ideas than does Bill Nelson! Every time I see the "polls" predicting a RAT tidal wave, I harken back to the 2 bottles of wine I drank in despair on Election Night 2004 having heard the polls predicting an easy Kerry victory. My hangover the next day convinced me to never trust the MSM/DBM for the many reasons more politically savvy Freepers have elaborated lately.
HEY!!! I represent that remark!
Very well said. I feel exactly the same way & wish I lived in Florida so I could vote for her. I hope she shows them all & wins!
Harris is a great person, but she will lose, sad to say.
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.