Fla. House Speaker Won't Challenge Harris

[Judi Lynn]

Fla. House Speaker Won't Challenge Harris
By DAVID ROYSE, Associated Press Writer

Wednesday, May 10, 2006
(05-10) 08:32 PDT Tallahassee, Fla. (AP) --

Rejecting appeals from Gov. Jeb Bush and other top Republicans, House Speaker Allan Bense said Wednesday he will not challenge U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris for the party's nomination for U.S. Senate.

Bense, of Panama City, just completed his second and final term as speaker of the state House and had been wooed by several top party members to get into the GOP primary against Harris, who is viewed by Bush and others as having little chance against Democratic incumbent Bill Nelson.

"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," Bense said in a statement released by his legislative office. "However, I have decided not to run for the United States Senate."

Bense said he was confident he could beat Harris and Nelson, "ultimately my decision came down to the fundamental question of whether I was willing to spend the next six, 12 or possibly 18 years of my life away from my family and my home serving Florida in the U.S. Senate. After much thought and prayer, I realized the answer to that question is 'no.'"
(snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2006/05/10/politics/p083203D98.DTL

[Cha]

1. Sounds like an arrogant

sob. Yeah, spend time with your family..if the bushes want it..you couldn't be that good.

[pokercat999]

37. What he's really saying......"The skeletons in my closet

would not look good in the Miami Herald".

[kay1864]

2. Hee hee!

"Bense said he was confident he could beat Harris and Nelson"

Uh, that would be Yes on 1, No on 2.

[ronnykmarshall]

3. This opens the door for Jeb!

How many more days are left to file?

[DoYouEverWonder]

4. Two days left

The deadline to qualify is this Friday!

[MADem]

6. I'm thinking he won't jump; he'd have to be pushed

http://homepage.mac.com/jholbo/nutwork/images/Bush,%20Jeb.jpg

And he's still smarting from losing an election before....he was SUPPOSED to be the Pretzledunce, but his misstep screwed it up.

[formercia]

5. Think of all the Administration officials

that have decided spending time with their family is more important then swearing fealty to Fearless Leader.

[Colonel Bat Guano]

7. Jeb CAN'T run, unless...

...Harris bows out first. Can you imagine a primary campaign between them? "Well I appointed her, but I have grave doubts about her NOW etc." "Well, he was my boss and I was proud to work under, I mean, with him, but there are things you should know about him etc."

Jeb would win the primary and possibly the general. He can definitely beat Harris. I have doubts about him taking on Nelson. Maaaybe. Support seems soft for both.

But a primary campaign with both Harris and Jeb would be HILARIOUS, all day, every day.

They know that, so no, Jeb won't be getting in.

[central scrutinizer]

9. no shit

Harris is such a loose cannon, that she might say ANYTHING at any time. Both she and Jebby know there is a lot of secret shit and there is just too much under that rock to risk turning it over. But you are right - a primary contest between would be the gift that keeps on giving.

[LiberalFighter]

8. Spending years of his life away from his family???

That is totally absurd. How many U.S. Senators leave their families back in their home state? Not many if any!!

[LiberalFighter]

10. Could it be that Harris has something on Bense?

[Orangepeel]

24. I doubt it. He just doesn't want to do it, but was being pressured to

for the good of the GOP, for florida, etc. He was getting a VERY hard sell.

It isn't certain that Bense would have won a primary against Harris, but it is certain that it would have been nasty. So, Bense would have to go through a rough primary that he might not win in order to go through a rough general that he probably wouldn't win.

This is very good news!

[riskpeace]

25. I think it's Nelson that could have "something" on Bense

In my opinion, some of Bense's financial contributors, that may already have come out for Nelson, could have played a role in his decision. He may have known he would not get their backing as he had in the past, since their money was already in the race on the other guy.

[GOPNotForMe]

11. Woohoo! nt

[Colonel Bat Guano]

12. What's extra funny about this....

...is that now, after Jeb has said she can't win, and W gave her a cold reception the other day in Tampa, and every republican official in the state has said "I hope it's not her"...

...now, they're all going to have to campaign all out for her, and raise cash for her. W in particular, because he can't afford the Senate going to dem control. Next time W sees her in Florida, there will be kisses, hugs, personal endorsements for her in his latest stump speech, etc. (He's speaking in Orlando today, I wonder if he'll start there?)

[Judi Lynn]

13. New, odd photo of Katherine Harris

Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Sarasota, speaks with the media after
filing papers to run for her Senate campaign on Monday May 8,
2006 in Tallahassee, Fla. (Steve Cannon / AP)

Story:

Gov. Bush doubts Harris can win Fla. seat

By BILL KACZOR, Associated Press
Last updated: 10:35 p.m., Monday, May 8, 2006

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- Gov. Jeb Bush said Monday that U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris has dropped so low in public opinion polls she cannot beat Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson in November.
Advertisement

"I just don't think she can win," Bush said at the Capitol in his strongest statement yet about his fellow Republican's struggling campaign.

The governor has made no secret that he hopes House Speaker Allan Bense will challenge Harris for the Republican nomination. Bense has not made up his mind, his wife, Tonie, said Monday from their Panama City home. The deadline for entering September's primary is Friday.

"With all due respect to the governor ... we know we can win," Harris told reporters Monday after filing her qualifying papers.
(snip/...)

http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=479547&category=&BCCode=&newsdate=5/8/2006

[aasleka]

30. Hmmm

Is it me or does it look like she is recovering from a stroke in this picture?

Possibly dental work or injections?

[adriennui]

31. she's recovering from a face lift and nose job

n/t

[Judi Lynn]

14. Kick!

:kick: :kick: :kick:

[DeepModem Mom]

15. WP: Bense Says No to Florida Senate Bid ("virtually ensures Harris")

Bense Says No to Florida Senate Bid

In yet another blow to the White House's attempt to find an alternative to Rep. Katherine Harris (R) in the Florida Senate race, state House Speaker Allan Bense announced this morning he will not make the race.

"While the challenge of running a successful campaign over the next several months was exciting, and while I am confident we would have been successful, ultimately my decision came down to the fundamental question of whether I was willing to spend the next six, 12 or possibly 18 years of my life away from my family and my home serving Florida in the U.S. Senate," said Bense in a statement. "After much thought and prayer, I realized the answer is 'no.'"

Bense's decision virtually ensures that Harris will have the Republican field to herself as the filing deadline in the state is Friday. Bense joins a long list of candidates that national GOPers unsuccessfully sought to recruit to challenge Harris, including Rep. Mark Foley, former Rep. Joe Scarbrorough and even Bense himself (he was urged to make the race earlier this year but deciced against it in August).

With Harris as the likely nominee, Republicans are headed for a difficult reconciliation period since several top leaders -- including Florida Gov. Jeb Bush -- have said publicly that Harris simply can't win the race. There have been doubts about Harris among the party's establishment figures since she decided to run due to her divisive role in the 2000 presidential recount. Those concerns have been greatly magnified as Harris has struggled to raise money and lost several iterations of top staff.

Polling shows her trailing Democratic incumbent Sen. Bill Nelson by double digits and most Republican observers believe she is simply too damaged to win in the fall. Make sure to check The Washington Post tomorrow for more in-depth coverage of the Bense announcement and its impact....

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/

[SpecialK]

16. THIS IS GREAT NEWS!!

[wakeme2008]

17. See my thread,,, IMHO George is pushing Jeb to run

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=132&topic_id=2615787&mesg_id=2615787

[Divernan]

27. No. Just today W is touting his brother for the presidency.

nt

[MallRat]

18. GO KATHERINE GO!!!

:bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce: :bounce:

[saltpoint]

19. There's still 2-3 days until the filing deadline. Don't count out Rick

Baker, Mayor of St. Petersburg.

He was campaign director for Jeb's unsuccessful gubernatorial run against Lawton Chiles and knows a lot of folks statewide.

He might not knock off Nelson but the race would be far closer. I think he would beat Harris in a primary.

[badgerpup]

20. Sniff...sniff....

Is that sacrificial lamb I smell cooking?

[bowens43]

21. Great news!!!

[MiniMe]

22. Maybe they should try Alan Keyes, he went to Illinois to run in 2004.

:lol:

[UTUSN]

23. K&R for a tentative woo-HOOOOO n/t

[soup]

26. ah, what the heck....

let it fly!

woo - freakin' HOOOO!!!

[Bosso 63]

28. I wouldn't get in a small plane with Harris.

I'm just saying.

[onehandle]

29. Keep 'em high, Kate! nt

[Rex]

32. They really don't want a Senator Harris

it would come back to haunt the GOPers. GOPers wish she would just stay in the House. I really hope she spent every dam dime she had on this election.

[Zorra]

33. Something in the closet that won't survive the scrutiny of a federal

campaign?

just askin'.

[truthisfreedom]

35. yep. no doubt.

[Bruden]

34. Great to see them falling apart.

[Apollo11]

36. Harris comments on Bense Annoucement

Wednesday, May 10, 2006

Harris comments on Bense Annoucement

(Tampa, Fla.) – Congresswoman Katherine Harris issued the following statement in response to Allan Bense’s decision not to run for the United States Senate today.

“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 with him in the future to beat my opponent in November.

Our campaign is focused on defeating liberal Bill Nelson. My candidacy is about being a fighter and a strong independent advocate for Florida. People are tired of politics as usual. They are tired of backroom beltway deals. They are tired of partisan politics. While I am a proud and loyal Republican, ultimately, when I cast a vote I always ask, is it the right vote for the people of my state and our nation – as opposed to a partisan game?

As a United States Senator I will be an independent voice for Florida. Former Senator Zell Miller (D-GA) once said, it’s not what team you’re on that is important, it’s what side you’re on that matters. I couldn’t agree more, and plan to cast every vote as a United States Senator with the philosophy that I will always be on the side of Floridians and our nation, first and foremost,” Harris said.

http://www.electharris.org/news/Read.aspx?ID=57