Harris Triumphant

The Bradenton, FL Herald reports:

Florida House Speaker Allan Bense said Wednesday he won't run for the U.S. Senate in 2006, leaving U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris alone for now in her quest to defeat incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson.

Despite strong encouragement from the White House and Gov. Jeb Bush, Bense said his commitment to the speaker's job came before a consuming Senate race.

....

Republican leaders began courting Bense to run for the seat out of concern that Harris, R-Sarasota -- who played a role in stopping the ballot recount in the contested 2000 presidential election -- would be a lightning rod for negative sentiment from Democrats.

Harris consistently trumped Bense, who admitted he had low name recognition, in the polls. The same polls have shown Harris consistently trailing Nelson.

Read it here.

So it looks like Harris v Nelson in Florida. Harris may well benefit from the attempts by the Bush Brothers to force her out of the race. Democrats have gotten a lot of mileage out of portraying her as a lackey of the Bushes. Distancing herself from them might be a smart political ploy. Who knows, she might even be able to portray herself as a victim – after all, look how well it worked for Hillary.

I'm starting to like this lady and as a former resident of the Sunshine State will keep my eye on her.

UPDATE:

Jeb is not pleased. Note the coolness of his response to her candidacy.

With Bense out, the GOP committee said that it is still talking to candidates who have expressed interest in the race, but that it isn't trying to recruit anyone to oppose Harris.

Similarly, the governor said he is not going to get involved in any more recruiting.

"I wish her well," he said of Harris, who announced in June that she planned to run. "I think she'll be a formidable candidate."

Read it here.