IS HARRIS BRING ADVISED TO AVOID THE SENATE CAMPAIGN AGAIN?

In his blog, Sarasota Herald-Tribune political columnist Jeremy Wallace is reporting that rumours are rampant in DC that White House advisor Karl Rove is encouraging Congresswoman Katherine Harris (R - Longboat Key) to avoid tossing her hat into the ring as a candidate for the U.S. Senate seat currently held by Bill Nelson when it comes up last year. Wallace cites this report from The Hill and MSNBC's Chris Matthews in his piece.

As for Harris, her office says it's a lot of nothing, that she and Rove meet occasionally to discuss a variety of subjects. But it's no secret that while Harris was considering running for the Senate last year when Bob Graham stepped aside, the White House discouraged her, citing the likely polarizing effect her candidacy would have and it's favour toward eventual winner Mel Martinez. Many Florida Democrats remember Ms. Harris from her conflict-of-interest in 2000 when she was a state co-chair of President Bush's campaign while serving as Secretary of State, and her decisions in the aftermath of one of the most divisive elections in recent memory.

Congresswoman Harris is continuing to say that she would make a decision by June. It is not known at this point if we would possibly see a rematch of last year's race against Democrat Jan Schneider of Sarasota. Ms. Schneider has been keeping active, though. She was among a group of protestors, primarily from the Florida Alliance for Retired Americans, who gathered in front of Harris' office last week.