GOP eyes Bense as opponent to Harris (Katherine)

[Moooooo]

GOP eyes Bense as opponent to Harris

Party favors state speaker in bid to unseat Nelson

TALLAHASSEE -- Gov. Jeb Bush and the White House are pushing House Speaker Allan Bense to challenge fellow Republican Katherine Harris for the U.S. Senate, fearing her candidacy would damage the GOP's chances in that race and the governor's contest next year.

The behind-the-scenes maneuvering appears to negate what was widely viewed as a deal that kept Harris out of the 2004 Senate campaign in exchange for her party's support in a 2006 challenge of Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla.

If Bense agrees, what had been expected to be a relatively smooth run to the nomination for Harris could become a heated primary battle between two Republicans.

Bense, of Panama City, has one year left in his term as House speaker, and earlier said he had no political aspirations beyond that office. Now he acknowledges that may soon change.

[The Dowager Mod]

Good let em beat the crap out of each other

[M]

Both would likely lose anyway- Harris is a disaster in high heels, and Bense is a virtual unknown by his own admission. I'm rooting for Bense, since he has a slightly better chance (though not much of one after a major primary battle). In all likelihood, though, the GOP has blown it in Florida this election, and deserves its coming senatorial defeat.

[WalterMitty]

the bushes are being a tad ungrateful.

katherine harris went out on a limb to save bush's ass.  the least the bushies could do would be support her in her senate bid (win or lose)

[AuH2O]

I agree. Plus, it fuels the (incorrect) notion that teeming hoards of Democrats are waiting to pounce on her.

[7,052,770]

Katherine Harris is my least favorite person in the world.  So let her go to the Senate, and turn all of America off to the Republicans, and let the Dems sweep in 08!

[A18]

Uh, right...