Posted on 09/21/2006 1:27:19 PM PDT by churchillbuff
For months, Republican leaders tried pushing Katherine Harris out of the U.S. Senate race in hopes of finding a candidate that could win, and she responded by talking about "the party elite" with disdain at just about every campaign stop.
But now that the party is stuck with her as its candidate to face Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, Republican leaders will welcome Harris as President Bush visits Tampa and Orlando Thursday to raise money to help the party maintain the governor's office, its hold on the Cabinet, and its dominance in the Legislature and U.S. House delegation.
The star of the evening will be Attorney General Charlie Crist, the Republican nominee to replace Gov. Jeb Bush, but Harris will join party leaders at the Orlando event expected to raise at least $2 million for the November election.
"The party invited her and we're glad she's able to attend," said state Republican Party spokesman Jeff Sadosky. "The governor and Chairman (Carole Jean) Jordan both immediately supported her when she won the primary."
But before she won the primary with less than half the vote in a four-way race, Jordan and the governor refused to back her. For months, Republican leaders in Tallahassee and Washington tried to find a candidate to defeat Harris. Gov. Bush openly said she couldn't win, and Jordan wrote to her saying the same.
Even after the primary, she was snubbed when Jordan, Gov. Bush, Crist and every statewide Republican candidate except Harris flew around Florida for unity rallies. The party said the events were to highlight state races, not federal campaigns.
Whether she continues to talk about the party elite, Harris welcomes the opportunity to finally join them.
"She looks forward to being with the president and Charlie Crist and Gov. Jeb Bush," said campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Marks. "We look forward to heading into November with unity."
Once the darling of Republicans when as Florida secretary of state she oversaw the 2000 recount that handed President Bush the White House, her popularity has been in a tailspin. She's been tied to a corrupt defense contractor, given embarrassing television interviews, endured former staffers detailing bizarre behavior and been caught at fibs that call her credibility into question.
But she is the nominee and the party plans to show support where it can even if she trails Nelson by more than 30 points in the polls and by millions of dollars in campaign contributions.
Jordan has offered to appear at events with Harris and the party plans to include her on get-out-the-vote mailings and fliers asking Republicans to vote for the entire ticket. She will also be among the candidates the party plans to showcase at events Friday and Saturday during its quarterly meetings.
Most of the money raised at the dinner Thursday, though, will go to state races, with the priority being to help Crist defeat Democrat Jim Davis as Bush leaves office due to term limits.
While President Bush's poll numbers have suffered, Crist said he will be proud to receive the president's support.
Congressman Davis' campaign, though, is using the visit to criticize Crist.
"Nobody more clearly illustrates the need for change in our state and our nation's leadership than George W. Bush," said Davis spokesman Josh Earnest. "He's going to need all the money that he can get to convince the people of Florida that the status quo is the best for Florida."
Well, they didn't help her get where she is and I think they finally realize she's not waiting for their help. I like her style. Wish I was in Florida!
I like her style too
Make that 3.
Nobody gives a damn about Crist. Harris is the star...........
The GOP is going to have to learn that they don't pick our candidates for us. They tried to push Schwarz on us here in Michigan and he's out too.
he campaign has be openly sabotaged from the beginning by the "elites", now they HAVE to get behind her. She owes them NOTHING!......
This whole fiasco has tarnished Jeb's imagine, in my book. The fact he and the party poobah's couldn't recruit someone better (whatever that means) early on, the Florida GOP should have at least kept their big mouths shut about Harris' chances against Nelson. Their pre-primary behavior and comments have created such ill-will against Harris' candidacy, that it is likely doomed. Jeb should have minded his own business at least in respect for how she refused to be intimidated in 2000, did her job, obeyed the Florida election laws, and helped secure Geo. W. Bush's victory in that election.
Which just proves she's not a very good politician or she wouldn't get caught! /sarc
Jeb's my favorite Bush. Wish he were running for prez for 08. Maybe he still will. None of the other candidates excite me a bit - Guililiberal, McCannut, Gingradulterer, Allenmacaca. No thanks to all of them.
IIRC, Harris has been steadily moving up in the polls, and is closing fast, no? I think this AP article is misleading.
IMHO, she exhibits a lot of "guts".
Living here in Florida, I support Harris all the way down to my bumper stickers. She has guts...and Bill Nelson continues to remind me of Howdy Doody.
Harris deserves to be recognized. She worked hard and tirelessly to get the nomination even when the media and GOPers were saying she wasn't worth the trouble. I wish her lots of luck and if I lived in Florida I would vote for her.
The problem with Kathleen Harris is she won't do as she is told. If she had just declared Al Gore the winner there wouldn't be any problem.
Perhaps it should occur to the Bush's that a woman strong enough to stand up to the Media and the Democrats, just might not be intimidated by the Repubicans.
Now they need to make nice. No big deal. The question is will Kathleen strike back before or after the election.
It's about time!!!
GO KATHY GO!!!
I hope Harris beats Nelson,then makes the GOP choke on its own cowardice!
Go Katherine!
"You go, girl"!
sw
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