Why Florida Senate race could turn into a comedy drama (Katherine Harris)

[Newsjock]

http://news.independent.co.uk/world/americas/story.jsp?story=467590

By David Usborne in New York
27 November 2003


The Republicans have a potential cruise missile for a candidate to contest the crucial race in Florida next year for a seat in the US Senate being vacated by the retiring Democrat Bob Graham. She is a woman of independent wealth, with striking looks and, most importantly, with exceptionally high name recognition.

Why then, are all Republicans, and the White House in particular, petrified at the very prospect? Because her name is Katherine Harris, once called the "power bitch" for her pivotal role as Florida's secretary of state in handing the state, and therefore the Presidency itself, to George Bush in the 2000 balloting debacle.

What was a tragedy in 2000, at least for supporters of Al Gore, is shaping up to be a comic drama for 2004. Mr Bush wants nothing more than for the country to forget the screwball manner in which he squeaked into the White House three years ago. No such national amnesia will be possible if Ms Harris is in the picture.

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[Hawkeye-X]

1. Usborne forgot to say

the striking looks of Cruella DeVille that would instantly pain you...

Hawkeye-X

[The Backlash Cometh]

2. Democratic voter backlashes have been known to happen in Florida

There was one prominent Republican legislature from Orange County who had a prominent role in the Clinton hearings. He attained national prominence with his part in the lynching with all his t.v. appearances, but it didn't translate into votes for him when he ran for a state seat. May have been the Senate for all I remember. Anyway, the man was bright, but too political and his career was over when he tried to take the next step up. Running for a state position put him where all Floridians could take a shot at him. And he lost.

I think his name was Bill Mitchell? No, that doens't sound right. Anybody remember?

[Hand]

3. Bill McCullum...

And a vile little gobshite he was--a classic Bible-thumping repuke. He even looked like a fucking preacher.

[kskiska]

4. Even Monica had McCollum pegged

When as a House Manager he asked her a question designed to elicit a salacious answer, demurred, saying she didn't want to put a wrinkle in his nice white shirt.

[The Backlash Cometh]

5. That's him!

I remember when I saw him on t.v. during those hearings I just prayed for a chance to send him a message. When he launched his campaign for the Senate(?), I called his office and told them to thank him for me because I finally had a chance to vote against him. (I wasn't in his local district at the time.)

I also remember that a Republican acquaintance of mine was shocked, SHOCKED! that McCullum lost. He asked me why we would all vote against a seasoned politician. I told him it was payback time. And he said, but I thought the Clinton hearings were the Republican's payback time. "Where does it end?" he said. Indeed, does it ever?