Possible Senate Run By Harris Reportedly Concerns Bush Campaign

[Terri]

Possible Senate Run By Harris Reportedly Concerns Bush Campaign

By Jimmy Moore
Talon News
November 20, 2003

TALLAHASSEE, FL (Talon News) -- Rep. Katherine Harris (R-FL) recently said she is "seriously considering" a run for the United States Senate seat held by Democrat Sen. Bob Graham. Graham has indicated his intentions to retire from the Senate at the end of his current term.

Harris is best known for her role during the 2000 presidential election in Florida when she certified the election in favor of George W. Bush while serving as Secretary of State during the recount fiasco. Her popularity from that unprecedented event paved the way for her to win a seat in the U.S. Congress in 2002.

Political analysts have said that Harris would be an attractive candidate and would likely be the frontrunner in the race because of her high name recognition.

On the other hand, some Republicans believe that Harris' presence in the Senate race will incite a backlash from Democrat voters who will be reminded of the 2000 presidential election. They say that her candidacy could even jeopardize the chances of President George W. Bush winning reelection.

More (http://www.gopusa.com/news/2003/november/1120_harris_martinez .shtml)

[Floridaguy]

Quote[/b] ]NewsMax.com reported on Wednesday that Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Mel Martinez will officially announce his candidacy for the seat within the next two weeks.
Sources tell NewsMax.com that Martinez has been hand-picked to run by Bush strategist Karl Rove after speaking with Sen. George Allen (R-VA), who heads the Senate GOP Campaign Committee.
Martinez says that he is "thinking about it" and that he does not have "a timeline or a timetable on" his decision.
Republicans strategists believe that Martinez would attract Cuban and Latino voters for the GOP if he decides to run, a crucial voting bloc for the Bush campaign in Florida.
Meanwhile, Harris is paying close attention to what Martinez decides in the coming weeks. She said that she will likely remain in the House if Martinez decides to run for the Senate. However, she would not rule out conducting public opinion polls of Florida voters to assess her chances with or without Martinez in the race.


This almost exact same article came out in our papers several weeks ago. Local sources have echoed that Harris would not likely run if Martinez did, and that she may opt not to run regardless. What do any of you think from a strategy standpoint regarding the administrations' stance? Please bear in mind that through a series of coincidences, that if Katherine does not run, M.S.U.Matt could very well wind up on the Sarasota Memorial Hospital Board! http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/flag19.gif *http://www.gopusa.com/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/cowboy7.gif