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Harris wins nomination in Florida Senate race
By Jane Sutton
Reuters
Tuesday, September 5, 2006; 11:54 PM
MIAMI (Reuters) - Katherine Harris cinched the Republican party's U.S. Senate nomination in Florida on Tuesday, despite the best efforts of party heavyweights who begged the former election official not to run.
The U.S. congresswoman won about 50 percent of the vote in Tuesday's primary election and will face a tough battle against incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in the November general election.
She trails Nelson by more than 30 points in voter opinion polls, lags far behind him in fund-raising and came under scrutiny after receiving illegal campaign contributions from a defense contractor who admitted bribing another congressional representative.
Harris, 49, has seen a steady exodus of disgruntled campaign staffers, who described her as obsessed with unimportant details and prone to screaming tantrums.
None of that fazed Harris.
"Standing here tonight with you is proof positive just how we can courageously beat the odds as we have time and time again with your help," Harris said at her victory party in Tampa.
Republican heavyweights did their best to dissuade Harris from running and Gov. Jeb Bush said publicly in May he did not think she could win.
As Florida's top election official during the 2000 recount fiasco, Harris was reviled by Democrats for certifying President George W. Bush the winner before the recounts were completed.
But the Republicans failed to recruit any high-profile contenders to run against her and Harris bested three unknowns who joined the race on the last day of qualifying: retired Navy Adm. LeRoy Collins, attorney Will McBride and real estate developer Peter Monroe.
Harris has scant support among independents, who account for one in five Florida voters, and even 31 percent of Republicans said they disliked her in a recent Mason-Dixon poll.
She recently provoked an uproar when she dismissed the separation of church and state and told a Baptist publication that "if you're not electing Christians, then in essence you are going to legislate sin."
The strongest enthusiasm for Harris seems to be among the bloggers and comedians who delight in ridiculing her tight clothing and flirtatious manner.
Pundits said the Republican establishment was unlikely to rally round their nominee in the general election.
"If she runs and she loses badly then they're kind of done with her," said Mason-Dixon pollster Brad Coker. "Sometimes in politics you're better off just letting somebody ride off the cliff and into oblivion."
Floridians also chose nominees in the race to replace Jeb Bush, who remains popular but cannot run for re-election because of term limits.
In the Republican race, Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist easily defeated Tom Gallagher, the state's chief financial officer. Among Democrats, U.S. Rep. Jim Davis edged out state Sen. Rod Smith.
Crist is far better known than Davis and will have strong backing from the Bushes in an election where skyrocketing hurricane insurance rates and rising property tax assessments are expected to be key issues.
"The homeowner's pocketbook ... that will definitely translate into votes," said Susan McManus, a political science professor at the University of South Florida.
Harris wins nomination in Florida Senate race
By Jane Sutton
Reuters
Tuesday, September 5, 2006; 11:54 PM
MIAMI (Reuters) - Katherine Harris cinched the Republican party's U.S. Senate nomination in Florida on Tuesday, despite the best efforts of party heavyweights who begged the former election official not to run.
The U.S. congresswoman won about 50 percent of the vote in Tuesday's primary election and will face a tough battle against incumbent Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in the November general election.
She trails Nelson by more than 30 points in voter opinion polls, lags far behind him in fund-raising and came under scrutiny after receiving illegal campaign contributions from a defense contractor who admitted bribing another congressional representative.
Harris, 49, has seen a steady exodus of disgruntled campaign staffers, who described her as obsessed with unimportant details and prone to screaming tantrums.
None of that fazed Harris.
"Standing here tonight with you is proof positive just how we can courageously beat the odds as we have time and time again with your help," Harris said at her victory party in Tampa.
Republican heavyweights did their best to dissuade Harris from running and Gov. Jeb Bush said publicly in May he did not think she could win.
As Florida's top election official during the 2000 recount fiasco, Harris was reviled by Democrats for certifying President George W. Bush the winner before the recounts were completed.
But the Republicans failed to recruit any high-profile contenders to run against her and Harris bested three unknowns who joined the race on the last day of qualifying: retired Navy Adm. LeRoy Collins, attorney Will McBride and real estate developer Peter Monroe.
Harris has scant support among independents, who account for one in five Florida voters, and even 31 percent of Republicans said they disliked her in a recent Mason-Dixon poll.
She recently provoked an uproar when she dismissed the separation of church and state and told a Baptist publication that "if you're not electing Christians, then in essence you are going to legislate sin."
The strongest enthusiasm for Harris seems to be among the bloggers and comedians who delight in ridiculing her tight clothing and flirtatious manner.
Pundits said the Republican establishment was unlikely to rally round their nominee in the general election.
"If she runs and she loses badly then they're kind of done with her," said Mason-Dixon pollster Brad Coker. "Sometimes in politics you're better off just letting somebody ride off the cliff and into oblivion."
Floridians also chose nominees in the race to replace Jeb Bush, who remains popular but cannot run for re-election because of term limits.
In the Republican race, Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist easily defeated Tom Gallagher, the state's chief financial officer. Among Democrats, U.S. Rep. Jim Davis edged out state Sen. Rod Smith.
Crist is far better known than Davis and will have strong backing from the Bushes in an election where skyrocketing hurricane insurance rates and rising property tax assessments are expected to be key issues.
"The homeowner's pocketbook ... that will definitely translate into votes," said Susan McManus, a political science professor at the University of South Florida.
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