If Bense isn't running, then let's focus on Katherine

Let me take you back to September 12 last year when I said,

As you all know in the absence of a Jeb Bush announcement for Senate, Katherine Harris is my girl and I support her. That does not prohibit me from being critical and I will criticize in an effort, or hope, to communicate the opinions of one conservative voter to the strategist and handlers of Mrs. Harris herself. She is our candidate, she will be the candidate, and it is our duty to help get her elected.

Has anything changed since then? Sure she's made some awful appearances and sure she's been through multiple campaign staffers, and sure she appears to have imploded. But over the course of the past 6 months, if you were her, wouldn't you have made some mistakes too? It's hard to be right when everyone, including your own "family," is against you.

I don't vote for liberals so she's the only person currently in the race for US Senate that I can vote for. And until noon passes we won't know who's in the race for good. But, after that time, if Jeb hasn't announced and Bense is passing up his opportunity, then the rest of us (conservatives and GOP) should start acting as if the next Senator from Florida will be Harris. Any potential challengers - McBride, Ross and others - can not possibly hope to defeat her in the primary, so why even discuss them as if they will ever face Nelson. If they do enter the race today, Harris should ignore them from day one and act as if the race for the Senate has begun. We should all recognize any challengers to Harris are taking a unique opportunity to raise name ID for future races. What better way to introduce yourself to Primary voters than to be on the same stage with Harris?

 

But let's not get to carried away. Harris will win the primary, and without our help, she will lose the General Election. I say, let's help her win, and let the Senate leadership control her. I would rather have the numbers in the Senate then a nagging reminder of what could have been right here at home. And, in the future, when you complain about the space cowboy trying to start a war with Cuba over oil, your first question should be, "what did I do to help KH?"

 

UPDATE: Like I said above, it's time to get behind Katherine. It looks like Senator Martinez succumbed to today's PEER Pressure -

Harris Welcomes Support of Senator Mel Martinez
Harris Campaign Also Responds to Close of Filing

For Immediate Release May 12, 2006

Contact: Chris Ingram  (813) 288-8400

(Tampa, Fla.) - The Katherine Harris for U.S. Senate campaign welcomed the reiteration of support expressed by U.S. Senator Mel Martinez in comments he made at the National Press Club today.

"A number of people have filed today. [Katherine Harris] is by far the most serious of those candidates and I think she will be the nominee. I wish her well. And I think that the best thing she can do is to focus her race on the issues and her opponent and their differences and why she would be a great senator from the state of Florida for this country. I wish her well. And I will be endorsing her -- if I have not already done so. I think I already have, but I will be, I am sure, campaigning with her," Martinez said.

 

"I am grateful for Senator Martinez's friendship, support, and endorsement. I look forward to having him with me on the campaign trail and serving with him in the United States Senate," Congresswoman Harris said.

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Earlier today the Katherine Harris for U.S. Senate campaign responded to the close of filing of candidates for the U.S. Senate today.

Campaign spokesman Chris Ingram said, "While we would have preferred not to have had a contested Primary, the campaign is confident that it will continue to maintain and expand the support of loyal Republicans and grassroots activists who share Katherine Harris' commitment to fight for Florida's families, small businesses, and senior citizens. With a tremendous base of support, we expect to be victorious in September and November."

"The Primary gives us an opportunity to further demonstrate Katherine's commitment to the people of Florida and remind them she will be an independent voice for their concerns in the United States Senate. Today, more than ever, voters want a senator who has their interests in mind, as opposed to the interest of the political power-elite," he said.

"Ultimately, our focus will be on taking on liberal Bill Nelson in November and demonstrating the distinct differences between Katherine Harris the fighter, and Bill Nelson, the do-nothing senator," Ingram concluded.

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Comments

[Bob]

I agree, she's our candidate and we need to get behind her.

The late-coming wannabes don't count in my book, although I have heard good things about Bill McBride, but he should set his sights on Tallahassee first.

[Bill]

No Ms. Harris is an embarassment. She is either an idiot, corrupt, or both. She has no business being in office, and voting for her is a joke. Vote for one of the other 3 candidates in the primary. I've blogged about Harris. I'd trackback here to this post, but you don't have TBs anymore.