Harris stays in; Dems exhale

March 16, 2006

Things looked bad for Senate candidate Katherine Harris (R-Fla.), but they looked even more distressing for Democrats. Harris suffered weak poll numbers, poor fundraising, and a staff that kept quitting. Then, to complicate matters, she was caught accepting illegal campaign contributions from a corrupt defense contractor. Dems wanted Harris weakened before she took on Sen. Bill Nelson (D) in November, but not so weak that she’d have to drop out. After all, Dems thought, what if the GOP finds a competitive candidate for the campaign?

Never fear, Harris isn’t going anywhere.

Rep. Katherine Harris used a national television audience tonight to try to jump-start her faltering Senate campaign, announcing that she would pour $10 million of her own money into the race.

Harris’ appearance on the Fox News program Hannity & Colmes capped weeks of speculation about whether she would drop out of the race against Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla. because of problems with fundraising, staff turnover and the fallout from her acceptance of illegal campaign contributions. […]

“I’m in this race. I’m going to win,” Harris said. “I’m going to put everything on the line. … everything that I have, and I am going to put it in this race.” The $10 million will come from an inheritance from Harris father, she said, who died earlier this year.

That cheering sound you hear is coming from Bill Nelson’s campaign office.

Oddly enough, Harris’ Fox News appearance came just a couple of hours after a University of North Florida poll was released, showing Nelson leading Harris, 48% to 28%.

I hate to come across as dense but where did Katherine harris get $10MM? She is a Congresswoman and prior to that she was the SOS for Florida (if memory serves me correctly). How does a career politician and civil servant get that kind of cash? He soul couldn’t have been worth more than $1MM. With the economy the way it has been over the past 7 years I don’t see how she got that high a return.

  • Oh, Never MIND! It helps to read the whole post before going off. Anyone know where her father got the money?

  • Don’t count the Republicans out yet. The GOP is fully aware that Harris’ chances are slim to none, and they could pick up the seat with a viable candidate. Don’t be surprised if she has a primary challenger.

  • I don’t know if FOX is making the archive of this interview available, but if they are and you get a chance, watch it, it’s priceless.

    Katherine damn near outdid Nora Desmond and Scarlett O’Hara in the drama department.

    In the interview she mentions “lighting bonfires of inspiration”. I think the only bonfore we’ll be seeing is her inheritance going up in flames after she loses the race.

  • showing Nelson leading Harris, 48% to 28%.

    Nelson, an incumbant, can’t get above 50%? any insight into why he’s not more popular in such a swing state?

  • Harris is further proof of the old saying “the first generation steals it, the second generation keeps it and the third generation blows it.” Watching her pour $10M down a giant rathole is a perfect description of the past 5 years of Republican “governance.”

  • Harris’ grandpa just died in the last few years, his name is Ben Hill Griffin, the name that stands on the Univ. of Florida’s football stadium, I suppose she got most of her money from him.

  • Wouldn’t it be great if Cruella blew all her dough on this idiotic campaign and ended up penniless and pushing a shopping cart down the street? I can dream, can’t I?

  • Lance,

    Damn Edo, I was going to say that.

    Every once in a while I beat you to the punch. Of course, when that happens its just the exception that proves the rule! Comment on, baby!

  • Well, she already believes that sprinkling blessed tap water on orange trees will cure citrus canker so why should we be surprised that she still thinks she can win?

    She probably has the Easter Bunny on speed dial, too. 😉

  • If Harris is indeed bankrolling her run with money she inherited, I bet a lot of Republicans now wish they could retroactively apply the death tax. In just this one case, of course.

  • Maybe when she’s blown her family’s $10m she can get a job (er, employment) with Anita Bryant selling whatever she’s hawking these days. Though what she’s going to do to maintain those artificial boobs and the facelift I don’t know.

    48% to 28% – this will be a real challenge for the Bush Crime Family’s Diebold machines and their Supreme Court whores.

  • Ed — When I first read this post one of my first thoughts was whether Diebold would be Harris’ ace in the whole. I held off because I was afraid that you guys would think that I had my tinfoil hat on to tight.

    Thanks for sayin’ it.

  • As you could imagine, I have been having alot of fun the past few days – I, too, am hoping Katherine Harris stays in the game a bit longer. Take care ~~

  • Harris’ interview on Fox with Sean Hannity annonuncing her decision to stay in the race is nearly as hilarious as her interview on his program the day she kicked off her campaign. You can see clips of both at Crooks and Liars. It is quite a video journey for Harris. Exuberant jezebel (or is it an aging ingenue?) exposing unexpected assets morphs to the grieving, determined, turtle-necked daughter who is going to pour worldly assets into winning the Senate because there is so much at stake. One thing the two Kates have in common? They’re both willing to do anything ANYTHING to win. Love the way she pronounces “again” as “agane,” it’s so sophisticated.

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