Reply #47: Check today's Wall Street Journal

[Apollo11]

THE WALL STREET JOURNAL, May 10, 2006

Katherine Harris Battles Old Friends For Florida's Keys

Despite Role in 2000 Recount, Her Senate Bid Is Souring; Jeb Bush Speaks Bluntly

By JOHN D. MCKINNON

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. -- Katherine Harris, overseer of the Florida recount that tipped the presidency to George W. Bush, is gunning for a U.S. Senate seat. But instead of gratefully supporting her, the Republican establishment just wishes she'd go away.

Democrats are having a field day with the candidate's entanglement in a Washington lobbying scandal as well as her uneven political touch -- she once made a speech about a terrorist plot that didn't exist. She's badly trailing Democrat incumbent Bill Nelson in the polls. A slew of staffers have quit her campaign, frustrated by her management style and her tendency to ignore their advice, in particular the suggestion that she forget the whole thing.

Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, the president's brother, told reporters at a recent press briefing that he warned Ms. Harris about becoming a distraction, given the high degree of animus that still surrounds her. "The campaign can't be about her," Gov. Bush said. "I gave her that exact advice. Since then, it's gotten worse."

Last week, Gov. Bush mentioned that some were encouraging state House Speaker Allan Bense to run for the Republican nomination. The filing deadline is Friday. "He would be a great United States senator," Gov. Bush added.

Two days ago, the governor was at his most blunt: "I just don't think she can win," he said.

"I respectfully disagree," responds Ms. Harris, 49 years old, who is currently a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. "Clearly at the beginning of the year he said I could win. Last month he said we could turn it around, and we've done that."

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http://online.wsj.com/public/article/SB114722702872148541-mYckVnJMQ9fhkezrCx4WGOJjrj8_20060608.html?mod=tff_main_tff_top

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