Free Republic

<p>TALLAHASSEE - When Florida lawmakers ended their annual session Friday, the speaker of the House jokingly called himself a ``nobody.''</p> <p>Although Allan Bense was speaking in jest, it is certain that few Floridians know who he is.</p>

Florida House Speaker Allan Bense announced today that he will not challenge U.S. Representative Katherine Harris in the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate. According to an Associated Press account, Bense said, "I have been extremely honored and humbled by the strong support and encouragement I have received from my family, my friends, and from people across Florida who I admire greatly, however, I have decided not to run for the United States Senate." "I respect Allan Bense's decision and appreciate his noble service to Florida. Allan has been a friend over the years, and I look forward to working...

I sent a letter to Tommy Franks asking him to get into the Senate race a few weeks ago. His partner sent me back a really nice response that implied he was considering it. Please go to tommyfranks.com to encourage him to get into the race. We only have until Friday. With enough encouragement, maybe there's still time to defeat Bill Nelson. I wish Harris could do it, but I don't believe she can. The text of my email to him follows.

TALLAHASSEE -- The man whom House Speaker Allan Bense considers a father figure believes Bense will challenge U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris in the Republican primary race for U.S. Senate, he said Monday. The prediction by Charles Hilton, a Panama City businessman and Panhandle political force, came the same day Gov. Jeb Bush told reporters Harris cannot defeat Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November. Hilton said that after talking with Bense on Monday, he thinks Bense's passion for challenging battles will drive him into the race. "I see that look in his eye -- the look of wanting to stay...

The decision leaves Harris, now a member of Congress from Sarasota, as the likely challenger to incumbent Democratic Senator Bill Nelson in what will be the most closely watched Senate campaigns in the country.

Florida House Speaker Allan Bense said Wednesday he won't run for the U.S. Senate in 2006, leaving U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris alone for now in her quest to defeat incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson. Despite strong encouragement from the White House and Gov. Jeb Bush, Bense said his commitment to the speaker's job came before a consuming Senate race. "I believe it would be extremely difficult to fulfill my duties as speaker while also running for the United States Senate in a campaign that will attract national attention and require a huge commitment of time and energy," Bense, R-Panama City, said...

Dashing the hopes of the White House, Florida House Speaker Allan Bense said Wednesday he will not challenge U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris in next year’s U.S. Senate Republican primary. Bense, a Panama City businessman, had flirted with the idea of challenging Harris since May. Karl Rove, President George W. Bush’s deputy chief of staff and top political adviser, asked Bense to enter the race during a visit in Washington last month. Many Republicans fear Harris simply cannot beat U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson — the only statewide-elected Democrat in Florida. GOP leaders also fear Harris will energize a moribund Democratic Party...

Frustrated with the White House and a key Republican, supporters of Rep. Katherine Harris' (R-Fla.) 2006 Senate campaign lashed out at the administration yesterday for seeking to convince another prominent GOP official to enter the race. "It's unimaginable that the White House folks and the National Republican Senatorial Committee would be so disloyal to Katherine Harris, especially after all she has done for the Bush family and the Republican Party," a Florida political operative who supports Harris said. "It's unconscionable and a stab in the back." Harris backers are irritated that State House Speaker Allan Bense met with White House...