November 7, 2003

60-40 VISION FILES:

Senate On My Mind (Dotty Lynch, Douglas Kiker, Steve Chaggaris, Beth Lester and Clothilde Ewing, 11/07/03, CBS News)

Republican Rep. Katherine Harris, a woman whose name instantly brings back memories from the 2000 election, said she is "seriously" considering running for Florida’s open Senate seat next year, according to the Sun-Sentinel. As you may remember, Harris, Florida’s Secretary of State during the tumultuous 2000 presidential election, is credited with helping end the recount, thus securing a victory for Bush.

Because of her high profile involvement in 2000, Harris has instant name recognition, something that could both help and hurt her if she decides to run. "In a general election, she’ll be a polarizing figure," said Dario Moreno, a political scientist at Florida International University. "Whether you love her or hate her, she became the symbol for the 2000 election debacle … In a way, I think the Democrats would almost love to run against her."

An heiress to the fortune of the late Florida citrus baron Ben Hill Griffin Jr., Harris said for months that she was not even consider challenging Sen. Graham, because of the close relationship the two farming families share.


Her election will be the final twist of the knife next November.

Posted by Orrin Judd at November 7, 2003 2:31 PM
Comments

Not as attractive a candidate (no pun intended) as Mel Martinez. A bit too polarizing, with the ability to energize (misguided) Dems. Of course, her victory but thus be more bitter for Dems to take.

Posted by: MG at November 7, 2003 5:15 PM

I would pay to see her run.

Posted by: David Cohen at November 7, 2003 9:58 PM

It'd be worth it just to see the same criminial liberal media who didn't have a problem with Hillary's lack of experience whining about out one term in Congress wasn't enough experience for a Senator. Then again, I really don't want to see them drag out the "payback for '00 hook again. It'd be bull$#!+ but if you repeat bull$#!+ enough times, people start buying it

Posted by: MarkD at November 8, 2003 12:09 AM

Hillary had umpteen years of experience as the First Lady of Arkansas, plus those eight years in the White House... She had plenty of political experience, both in winning elections, and attempting to govern.

Posted by: Michael Herdegen at November 10, 2003 9:58 AM
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