Posted on 06/30/2006 10:57:33 AM PDT by devane617
TALLAHASSEE - Even among Republicans, U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris's U.S. Senate bid is in trouble: A poll today shows her getting only 35 percent of the vote in the GOP primary in September -- enough to beat her no-name opponents, but not even close to dominating the field.
And matched up against incumbent Bill Nelson, Harris remains far behind if the election were held today. Nelson gets 59 percent to Harris' 26 percent in the latest Quinnipiac University poll of Florida voters.
''She's stuck where she's stuck,'' said Peter Brown, assistant director of the Connecticut-based polling institute. ``There are a lot of Republicans skeptical about her candidacy.''
The poll numbers are consistent with nearly every other survey -- including a number of those done by her former staff, who advised her to get out of the race. A year ago, a Quinnipiac poll found Nelson leading Harris 50-38, and in six of their polls since, he has steadily gained while she has lost support.
A major reason for the troubles is all the negative press Harris has received. She unknowingly took illegal campaign contributions from a convicted defense contractor involved in a massive congressional bribery scandal, she scared residents of a small Indiana town when she incorrectly said a terrorism plot aimed at them had been foiledand, most recently, suggested that congressional Florida Democrats support her when none do.
''Every day, it's something new with her,'' said Ed Rollins, a top Reagan Revolution strategist who quit his post as Harris' top adviser in March.
''The bottom line, it doesn't make what difference she does between now and November because it's over,'' Rollins said. ``She's about 30 points behind in every poll. She'll get 40 percent of the vote. National Republicans and the White House have written her off.''
Rollins said that he went to work for Harris because she had a rockstar quality in Republican circles for her role in certifying George W. Bush president in the disputed 2000 elections. He said that Nelson's support was soft, a sentiment reflected in the Quinnipiac poll in which only 47 percent of respondents said they wanted to see Nelson re-elected, with 31 percent calling for the election of ''someone else'' and 23 percent not sure or not responding.
Still, 40 percent of people view the mild-mannered incumbent favorably, with only 11 percent having an unfavorable opinion. By contrast, Harris' numbers are a nightmare for a candidate, with fewer people -- 20 percent -- having a favorable opinion than the 34 percent who have an unfavorable view.
Barely anyone knows her Republican challengers: 86 percent don't know enough about LeRoy Collins Jr.; 72 percent say that about William McBride, and 83 percent about Peter Monroe.
Quinnipiac surveyed 1,311 people for the poll, which has an error margin of 2.7 percent for general election questions and 4.3 percent for primary race questions.
McBride. He's catching up to Harris in the primary, 35% to 16% with 38% undecided.
Where is that poll from???
Tell us what state you live in...so we can analyze your politicians. Otherwise, stop trolling the Harris threads."
Tell us what State you are from, or Shut Up!
Care to make a prediction of the outcome? Yes I believe she will probably win the primary. But give me percentages for the general.
Good for you. I also stand by mine:
Unless you've got your own house in order, don't complain about the state of others. And don't engage in endless, unwarranted, counter-productive attacks on the best hope that another state has.
By the way, I lived in the People's Republik of Kalifornia for almost twenty years -- I know a socialist hellhole when I see one.
End of line.
It's the poll this thread is based on. I had to dig out the details from quinnipiac.edu.
Most people have already answered: of Harris and McBride, they've vote for McBride, because Harris is a terrible candidate with little grip on reality.
For what its worth, this is how I read the poll. Keep in mind that this poll is based on 800 respondents, which doesn't seem like a very big sample.
The Democrats have settled on Nelson. There isn't any doubt he's their man, so he polls high for his half of the electorate.
The Repubs haven't settled on their candidate, there are still a lot of people hoping for some unspecified dream candidate to come along, there are still a lot of undecideds. That will change after the primary.
KH still polls twice the votes of her closest rival. While the polls show Nelson well ahead of KH at this point, he does even better against her rivals. She is still the best bet.
The Republicans who are still undecided, or who are divided among the several candidates, will close ranks around the eventual nominee, be it KH or McBride or who ever it is.
On the all important question, "do you want to see Nelson re-elected", Nelson scores less than half. That sounds to me like a Republican win. If its KH or McBride or any other Republican, if less than half the electorate wants to see Nelson reelected, that sounds like a Republican win.
Won't happen. KH will lose by a huge margin.
Harris will get clobbered.A nice rack will only get you so far.
Florida's GOP seems to have a pretty deep bench. Why waste their time on this joke?
I would say you have all the problems you need in Mass.
This family is voting for Harris.
Newsflash newbie -
None of the other Republican candidates declined to run for the seat. Harris was the only one to step up.
You people are truly pathetic.
Yeah, I go to Mass every week. Do you have a problem with Catholics or something? Bigot.
It will be a pleasure to see you eat those words, Smarty Pants.
The state boy the state.
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.