FLASH: Bense NOT Challenging Harris

Amazing (0.00 / 0)

This is truly amazing.  But you can bet your bottom dollar the GOOPers are scrambling to find a replacement.

Goss, Bush, Jennings, McCollum, who?

---

by: Blue @ Wed May 10, 2006 at 15:57:20 PM CDT

Have At Her (0.00 / 0)

I suspect a lot of prominent Dem figures have been keeping their powder dry on Harris - as to what a corrupt incompetent she is - in the hopes that nothing deters her from challenging Nelson and otherwise not encourage anyone to get in the race.

It is getting close to the time for people to speak up.

---

by: Eyeball @ Wed May 10, 2006 at 16:12:10 PM CDT

Newspaper Coverage (0.00 / 0)

SPT - "Bense won't run for Senate".

MH - "Hard-charging Bense may take on Harris".

---

by: Florida Politics @ Wed May 10, 2006 at 16:31:09 PM CDT

It's gonna be Jeb! (0.00 / 0)

You watch, this was all planned.  I have wagered that JEB! will be the Senate candidate after all.  I think polls show that he cannot run for President - in 2008 OR in 2012.  The very best he can do is U.S. Senate.  He wants to retire serving as something better than Governor but has to take something less than president.  The Republicans NEED Florida to stanch the bloodflow that they know will happen nationwide (Santorum, Frist's seat, Morrison in Montana, Hillary's slam dunk). And the only way that they can do it is to have the last popular Republican at the top of the ticket of a key state.  JEB! is popular HERE in Florida but not necessarily popular nationwide. Add that to the fact that Florida has always been 2-4 years behind the national trend and we have reason to be worried.

Remember, Katherine Harris said publicly that the only person she would step aside for is JEB!
Remember, JEB! reactivated his PAC last August.

We NEED to be prepared for JEB! to be the candidate for U.S. Senate and we NEED to have a plan.

I'm sounding the alarm. Let's get organized.

---

by: blueforyou @ Wed May 10, 2006 at 22:21:30 PM CDT

Jeb is not running (0.00 / 0)

Unless Harris gets indicted and no other Republican is running, there is no way Bush is running for the United State Senate---for a lot of reasons.

Jeb undoubtedly thinks the U.S. Senate is a career step backwards--and it is.  People who go to the Senate do not become President.  If you don't believe me, just as President's Kerry and Dole.  For a guy as individually-driven (is that a nice way of putting it?), going from leader of the fourth largest state in the union and one of the world's largest economies to the 98th ranked guy in a 100 member legislative body would be a nightmare.  Plus, he is not exactly a guy with a reputation of being a good compromiser.

Secondly, Jeb is in a great spot to run for President in 2012 or 2016.  He is a pretty young guy, in very good shape and leaving on this Governorship with solid poll numbers.  Now he can go make some money and travel the nation raising money for Republicans.  If he goes to the Senate, he is going to have to take vote after vote and only earn a record that will be used against him---not to mention significantly limit his earning potential (remember, his networth has dropped like 60% since he got elected). 

Nonetheless, this thing is hardly a cake-walk.  Harris will close the gap, and even a strong Nelson victory may not alone carry the day.  Remember 1998?  Graham killed Charlie Crist, yet the Dems lost the Governorship and a bunch of seats in the legislature.  Granted, it appears this year's ticket is much stronger up and down the ballot and it looks like the FDP is starting to get it together, but it does not change the fact Floridians are split in their opinions about the direction of the state and the direction of the country. 

If Nelson can win with a solid number and if the D's can articulate a vision of what they would do with power, it could be a very good year.  But if not---well, we are all Democrats. 

---

by: FrustratedModerate @ Wed May 10, 2006 at 23:07:31 PM CDT

[ Parent ]

Unimpressive List (0.00 / 0)

With Bense gone, there is an unimpressive list of potential challengers to Harris.

---

by: Blue @ Thu May 11, 2006 at 07:26:43 AM CDT

Worse Than You Think (0.00 / 0)

The list of potential challengers to Harris is pretty much a joke:

"At least three Republicans, all from West Central Florida, said Wednesday they are seriously considering running against Harris: state Rep. Dennis Ross of Lakeland, LeRoy Collins Jr., the son the late Gov. LeRoy Collins, and Peter Monroe, a developer from Safety Harbor who in the early 1990s headed the Oversight Board of the Resolution Trust Corp., which handled failed savings and loans."

GOP can't elude Harris vs. Nelson

---

by: Scoop @ Thu May 11, 2006 at 07:37:29 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Will Jeb Endorse (0.00 / 0)

Will Jeb endorse any of those 3 fools?  Heck, he may have to after all the trash he's talked about Harris.

Yes, Jeb has painted himself into a corner.

---

by: Blue @ Thu May 11, 2006 at 07:39:15 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Maybe Not (0.00 / 0)

There might not be an endorsement, but you can be damn sure that big bucks will be flowing to anyone (serious) who challenges Harris.

---

by: Eyeball @ Thu May 11, 2006 at 07:40:55 AM CDT

[ Parent ]

Shifting Gears (0.00 / 0)

Jeb will shift gears and endorse Harris (again).  He is already laying the groundwork.

---

by: Scoop @ Thu May 11, 2006 at 08:26:41 AM CDT

[ Parent ]