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.
back in university I dated a sorority girl for a number of years, Harris has always reminded me of the creepy mothers who were always hanging around the sorority who seemed to feel they were fully involved - when really their presense was only tollerated because they bought alcohol.
"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."
I may have to rethink my support of Katherine.
Bill Nelson is getting a near pass on this election, and that's too bad.
But Mrs. Harris and her campaign seem to be in a bad way.
I used to look forward to her involvement in politics, now I realize she is a nut with no loyalty to any one except her own self delusions.
Somebody please get her off the stage.
Why? This doesn't make any sense to me. Is everyone in Tampa at her HQ a mole or something?
Miami Herald Polls have "special sauce". It's not Zogby sauce but it's special sauce.
Katherine Harris isn't a nut. It is nutty to say that.
KH might not be a nut, but she certainly acts like one in front of a camera.
She primps and preens like Suzie Sorority, and it looks positively bizarre.
If you keep the Dopey Dem as your Senator, you have a yes vote on Gay Marriage Abortion, High Taxes, No GOD in school, and your Tax money goes to WELFARE .
Don't be STUPID, Vote GOP
So there's no other Republicans in Florida with name recognition who support these issues?
I didn't want her to enter the Senate race. She should have stuck to her House seat.
At least you get it.
Just imagine their remorse as she accepts the Vice Presidency from President Condi in '12.
This is going to be a wonderful ride.
Keep up your good work Adorno!
With FRiends like you, who needs enemas?
Indeed? I've personally participated in many events at both the '02 and '04 elections where Ms. Harris was getting plenty of attention from the press, and that was never the case.
Why are you taking a couple of events that have been blown totally out of proportion and then acting like that's the norm?
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