August 18, 200521 yr Would probably be a disaster for Nelson, though Scarborough would still have to go through Harris. Poor Harris, no love from her party. Republicans press ex-congressman to face Harris Republican Party leaders are courting Joe Scarborough to replace U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris in the 2006 Senate race against Bill Nelson. Scarborough, a cable TV talk-show host and former U.S. representative, has met with senior party officials who are encouraging him to challenge Harris, said Collier Merrill, a Pensacola businessman active in the Republican Party, on Tuesday. Harris, a Sarasota Republican, has lagged behind Nelson, the incumbent Democrat from Melbourne, in statewide polls. Republican Party leaders have made little secret they want another candidate. The White House, Gov. Jeb Bush and the National Republican Senatorial Committee headed by Sen. Elizabeth Dole, R-N.C., all encouraged state House Speaker Allan Bense to run. But he declined. "His name recognition continues to skyrocket," Merrill said of Scarborough. "I know he's being courted very heavily. I know everywhere he goes, people are encouraging him to run.'' Scarborough, reached Tuesday night, declined to comment. He was elected to Congress four times, beginning in 1994, and was an ally of former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who helped Republicans gain control of the U.S. House for the first time since 1954. Scarborough resigned from his House seat in 2001, saying he wanted to spend more time with his sons. Dan McLaughlin, Nelson's deputy chief of staff for communications, said he had heard that Republicans wanted Scarborough as a candidate. "Whoever they recruit, it will be a tough race," McLaughlin said. "The Republicans will have all the money in the world, and they're going to run a negative campaign, regardless of whether it's Harris or someone else." Before Scarborough could face Nelson, the Pensacola attorney would have to challenge Harris and win. Jim Dornan, campaign manager for Harris, said that would mean a face-off in the Florida primary on Sept. 5, 2006. "The only person she would step aside for is Jeb Bush," Dornan said. "If Joe Scarborough or any other Republican candidate runs, we are in this race to stay." Some Republicans point to polls that show Harris continues to rate low with non-Republican voters, a lingering effect from her role as secretary of state during the 2000 presidential vote recount. Supporters of Harris believe she can oust Nelson, and Dornan believes confidence in Harris already extends into Republican Party leadership. "As far as the White House or the Republican National Committee, we truly believe they know that Katherine is the best Republican candidate for this seat," Dornan said. Another issue to resolve: "Scarborough Country," the 2?-year-old MSNBC talk show that Scarborough hosts from Pensacola. His contract ends in March, but ratings are strong. The show, Merrill said, "has given him just about everything he wants." Eric Nickelsen, an active Republican and a partner in the Pensacola firm of John S. Carr Co., said Tuesday that he knows the party leadership is courting Scarborough to run. "And, truthfully," Nickelsen said, "I've contacted him and encouraged him to do so." http://www.pensacolanewsjournal.com/apps/p.../508170327/1006
August 18, 200521 yr Which probably means it's time to resurrect this: http://www.bluebus.org/archives/000258.php
August 18, 200521 yr Which probably means it's time to resurrect this: http://www.bluebus.org/archives/000258.php 905845[/snapback] :mischief2 :mischief2 :mischief2 :mischief2 Hmmm..
August 18, 200521 yr Katharine Harris sucks, and Joe Scarborough isn't much better. I'll be voting for Nelson anyway.
August 22, 200521 yr No Joey. Scarborough Won't Challenge Harris Nelson should be thankful. 910723[/snapback] You think he would have been a challenge for Nelson?
August 22, 200521 yr Author No Joey. Scarborough Won't Challenge Harris Nelson should be thankful. 910723[/snapback] You think he would have been a challenge for Nelson? 910749[/snapback] Name recognition can go a long way. Nelson isnt unpopular but he isnt super popular. Harris is much easier because she has negative connotation which makes Nelson an easier alternative. Plus the state has been leaning Republican and Scarborough seems like the kind of guy who can tap into that without alienating people the way Harris might. Thats just how I saw it though. I could be totally off base.
August 22, 200521 yr Sure, Scarborough can alienate people, by lying about his dead secretary. Funny Condit got railroaded for Chandra Levy's disappearance, something he never had anything to do with, but Scarborough gets a pass. Not to mention Scarborough's a blowhard Hannity wannabe (which is not saying much).
August 22, 200521 yr Sure, Scarborough can alienate people, by lying about his dead secretary. Funny Condit got railroaded for Chandra Levy's disappearance, something he never had anything to do with, but Scarborough gets a pass. Not to mention Scarborough's a blowhard Hannity wannabe (which is not saying much). 910878[/snapback] Holy f*** when did this happen?
August 22, 200521 yr Remember the summer of Chandra Levy? There's a reason you never heard of this before. Oh, and btw, in case you want to look it up, the secretary's name was Lori Klausutis, and her murder is still unsolved.
August 22, 200521 yr I like Joe but his show he has turned into a pipi dog lately with all this crappy Aruba talk, he's also stepped up his OMG LIBERAL ATTACK ON AMERICA1!! rhetoric.
August 23, 200521 yr I like Joe but his show he has turned into a pipi dog lately with all this crappy Aruba talk, he's also stepped up his OMG LIBERAL ATTACK ON AMERICA1!! rhetoric. 911871[/snapback] He's the bastard spawn of Bill O'Reilly and Greta Van Sustern.
August 23, 200521 yr I like Joe but his show he has turned into a pipi dog lately with all this crappy Aruba talk, he's also stepped up his OMG LIBERAL ATTACK ON AMERICA1!! rhetoric. 911871[/snapback] He's the bastard spawn of Bill O'Reilly and Greta Van Sustern. 911946[/snapback] Agreed. Or Sean Hannity and Ann Coulter. (shivers) :o
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