The irony of Rep. Katherine Harris’ (R) Senate campaign in Florida is that she’s the Dems’ favorite candidate. There were a handful of GOP contenders for the race, but Harris, with all of her scandals, her inability to generate support from Republican Party leaders, and her controversial past as a state official, was the one Dems everywhere wanted in the race.
It appears Harris may be poised to deny us our fun.
Rep. Katherine Harris fueled already rampant speculation about the status of her campaign for the U.S. Senate when she released a statement Saturday promising a “major announcement” about her future this week. […]
In her statement, Harris acknowledged all the speculation, notifying Republican activists at a meeting in Memphis that she was canceling her scheduled appearance there Saturday night “as I prayerfully prepare with my family, friends and advisors to finalize the strategy for a major announcement next week concerning my candidacy for the U.S. Senate.”
Harris continued: “I will continue to look to our founding fathers, who pursued their vision with integrity and perseverance, to discern the best course of action for the state of Florida and our nation.”
Now, it’s possible Harris’ announcement won’t be a withdrawal, but given the circumstances, it seems like we won’t have Harris to kick around much longer. As Republican strategist J.M. “Mac” Stipanovich said when he heard the statement, “I would be hard pressed to interpret that as anything other than a prelude to withdrawal. Normally you wouldn’t have to meet with friends and family to make a major campaign announcement that you’re staying in.”
Dems are in the untenable position of hoping Katherine Harris gets some fresh support and stays in the race for the long haul. At this point, it seems unlikely.