January 16, 2004

CLASS OF '06:

Florida's Harris may skip Senate run: Congresswoman will not seek the seat held by Bob Graham, GOP leaders say (John Kennedy, Jan 16, 2004, ORLANDO SENTINEL)

Katherine Harris is expected to announce today that she will not run for U.S. Senate, key Republican leaders told the Orlando Sentinel Thursday night.

After weeks of speculation about her political future, Harris apparently has decided to stay out of the crowded GOP primary field, although at least one party source conceded that she could change her mind.

As part of what were described as "delicate" discussions with GOP leaders, Harris will instead seek a second term in the U.S. House and likely will run for the seat now held by Florida Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in 2006.


Well, she always could count votes and they aren't there this time.

Posted by Orrin Judd at January 16, 2004 9:44 AM
Comments

Smart move by Harris and the GOP. The GOP needs to get behind 1 candidate (probably Martinez) to pick up this seat. Harris could use more experience before going for the Senate. There was some speculation that Jeb Bush might go for the Senate in '06 but one would think he's thinking Presidency.

Posted by: AWW at January 16, 2004 10:08 AM

Did she find a horse's head in her bed as well? Or was a favor just called in?

Posted by: Rick T. at January 16, 2004 11:25 AM

She'd be the automatic front-runner.

Posted by: Chris at January 16, 2004 11:27 AM

How disappointing-- I was looking forward to seeing all the Looney Left conspiracy hysteria about how her candidacy was a reward for her part in the Great Election Theft of 2000.

Posted by: Raoul Ortega at January 16, 2004 11:30 AM

Raoul --

That might be why the White House appears to be so heavily favoring Martinez. While Bush's re-election odds look good right now, especially since the Democrats seems to be favoring folks like Dean or Clark, where someone on the proper side of the rationality borerline on Iraq and the war on terror get the nod, like Gephardt, a Martinez candidacy would likely increase the Latino vote for Bush in the state.

In contrast, Harris' nomination would bring out the whackjob contingent to support Gephardt even if they were angry and depressed about Howie or Wes not getting the top spot on the ticket.
It probably wouldn't make a difference come November, but I think Karl Rove wants to stack the deck in his favor as much as possible.

Posted by: John at January 16, 2004 12:09 PM

I asume that adults had a chat with her and she did the right thing.

You gotta problem with that?

Posted by: Robert Schwartz at January 16, 2004 10:20 PM
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