Jeb fights with brother over Senate candidates

[mndemocrat_29]

This from www.politics1.com:

JEB CHILLS WHITE HOUSE MEDDLING IN FL SENATE RACE. Governor Jeb Bush (R-FL) let it be clearly known in recent days that he was not pleased with the purported efforts by his brother's White House insiders to recruit US Housing Secretary Mel Martinez to run for the open US Senate seat in Florida next year. Several GOP candidates are already in the race, and have been running for several months. Jeb -- in a less than subtle message to his brother -- told reporters that there was no vacuum in the GOP field, and that the party should be loyal to those Republicans who were brave enough to step forward and run when it appeared incumbent Bob Graham (D) was going to seek re-election. Jeb also made a point of praising several of those candidates by name and describing them strong candidates. Those comments apparently have caused the President's folks to back off their effort to pressure Martinez into the race. The "Draft Martinez" effort began in DC, apparently, in an effort to thwart Congresswoman Katherine Harris (R) from entering the Senate race as a more centrist alternative to what is currently a very conservative field of hopefuls. Some GOP strategists are worried that a Harris candidacy will energize Dems and constantly dredge up images of the divisive 2000 recount. Harris reportedly is very interested in the race and will only agree to take a pass on it if she can be shown empirical data that she is either unelectable or that her candidacy would seriously hurt the President in Florida. Harris supporters believe her candidacy would also energize the GOP base and give Harris an opportunity to tell her side that the outcome of the recount was an accurate measure of the real Florida vote.

[CMT]

1. heck yes

I want Kathleen (Cruella) Harris to be the GOP nominee for Senate. With her on the ticket it will bring Democrats out in droves.

[mndemocrat_29]

4. Totally agree

Harris v. Any Democrat would mean big turnout in Florida, and would give Democrats up and down the ticket more support.

[E_Zapata]

2. Ya know.......I just can't forgive Bob Graham

I hate the "he's unelectable" stance as a rule, but...he is enelectable. And if he truly wanted to serve this country and the people in it, he would drop from the presidential campaign and retain his seat in Florida.

Isn't he saying that save getting the dem nomination, that he will be retiring? Is this a guy who wants to remain a public servant for the good of the country, or is this a guy who just thinks it would be 'swell' to be president. Barring that.....he will be 'gone fishing'?

To give up an incumbent senate seat for the dems in 2004 is reckless......particularly a florida seat.

Boo on Graham!

[mndemocrat_29]

3. Well, I think that he's gunning for Vice President

Since he's no longer in the presidential race and isn't running for Senate reelection.

[Racenut20]

5. You have been away for a while??? He is not running for anything