I keep an eye on all of the major statewide races, but I have a special fondness for Florida’s Senate race and Georgia’s race for Lt. Gov. because they feature two of my least favorite political figures in the country: [tag]Katherine Harris[/tag] and [tag]Ralph Reed[/tag]. Fortunately, as events this week show, the two are going backwards.
Harris recently instituted a “loyalty oath” policy for her campaign employees. Apparently, that didn’t work out particularly well.
The high command of Rep. Katherine Harris’s FL Senate bid plans to resign by the end of the week, two people familiar with the campaign tell the Hotline.
The departing staff includes Glen Hodas, Harris’s campaign manager, her spokesperson, Chris Ingram, and Pat Thomas, her field director. The status of Harris’s chief fundraiser, Erin Delullo, is not clear. […]
One person involved in the campaign said there was no single precipitating factor. “She’s just very difficult to work with. It’s all the same stuff. The more than we put her out there, the more she shot herself in the foot,” this person said.
Keep in mind, there’s been a steady exodus away from Harris from all of her main campaign staffers for months. In April, her “her chief political strategist, her campaign manager, her spokeswoman, her director of field operations and even a traveling aide who helps hand out stickers at campaign appearances” all resigned in frustration.
Some staff turnover is expected in any major race, but Harris appears to have a serious problem.
As for our old friend Ralph Reed, his loyal team of staffers isn’t going anywhere — but evidence is mounting that they’re the only ones sticking with the controversial, Abramoff-tainted candidate.
Former Christian Coalition leader Ralph Reed, whose campaign for Georgia lieutenant governor has been clouded by questions over his ties to disgraced lobbyist Jack Abramoff, is promoting himself as the candidate with “stronger values.”
His opponent, state Sen. Casey Cagle, has responded by calling Reed’s campaign ads the “height of hypocrisy” and questioning publicly whether Reed could be charged with wrongdoing during the run-up to the November general election.
Reed seemed unstoppable last year when he first announced his intention to run for the seat. In his first campaign for elected office, he broke early fundraising records and scared other would-be Republican contenders out of running in the July 18 primary.
Cagle, though, has gained momentum and name recognition since concerns over Reed’s ties with Abramoff have grabbed headlines across the state.
“Gained momentum” is an understatement. As more Georgians learned about Reed’s scandals, Cagle’s support, slowly but surely, grew. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported yesterday that two new statewide polls show “support for Ralph Reed is dropping in the Republican race for lieutenant governor, thanks to a ruthless push on the ground and in the air by Casey Cagle.” At this point, Cagle is now leading Reed for the first time.
Cagle, who avoided the most serious negative attacks for a long while, unveiled two devastating TV ads this week that hit Reed where it hurts — just by pointing out the facts. They’re definitely worth watching. (thanks to readers J.C. and D.C. for all the amazing tips about the race)
And let’s also not forget that a Texas Indian tribe filed a federal lawsuit yesterday, accusing Reed, Abramoff, and their buddies of engaging in fraud and racketeering to shut down the tribe’s casino.
I’m sure Harris and Reed will be able to get jobs at Fox News after the election, but in the meantime, it’s great entertainment to see their political careers become punch lines.