Can Harris beat Nelson? Good horse race.
Rep. Katherine Harris Begins Campaign for Senate
By BRENDAN FARRINGTON
The Associated Press
Tuesday, August 9, 2005; 10:52 PM
SARASOTA, Fla. -- Rep. Katherine Harris began her campaign for Senate on Tuesday, saying among the issues she plans to address are homeland security and health care.
The Republican, best known for her role as Florida's then-secretary of state during the 2000 presidential recount, is trying to unseat Democrat Bill Nelson, who will be seeking his second Senate term in November 2006.
In her formal announcement, Harris said her agenda would be "heavy on security and light on taxes" and would also focus on improving health care and hurricane relief. Without specifically naming him, she attacked Nelson as too liberal for Florida.
Nelson's spokesman Dan McLaughlin said Harris' comments were straight out of the Republican playbook, and that Nelson consistently advocated public policy that served the mainstream.
First elected to the House in 2002, Harris declined to run for an open Senate seat in 2004 because some Republican strategists feared she might cost President Bush votes in Florida.
Harris, 48, may have a clear shot at Nelson. No other Republican showing significant strength in money raising has expressed a strong interest in running. Even with an opponent, she would be considered a favorite to win the nomination because of her high name recognition, ability to raise money and hero status among Republican voters who believe she helped preserve Bush's 537-vote victory in the state.
She said her Senate campaign was starting with "an extended listening tour which begins today." |
