HARRIS STILL PONDERING IF SHE'LL RUN AGAINST NELSON

The Lakeland Ledger has an article this morning noting that U.S. Congresswoman Katherine Harris (R - Sarasota) is still coy about the idea of running for the Senate next year against Bill Nelson.

While some Republicans across Florida are hoping that she'll run, praising her work in Congress and as a party loyalist, it is clear that she's not getting a lot of clear support up front. House collegue Ginny Brown-Waite was quoted as saying that she would "prefer not to say at this time." And former Sarasota County Republican Party chairman Tramm Hudson, who is considering a run for Harris' seat in the House, notes that "I don't think she's getting the encouragement."

It's clear that some in the Republican Party fear a Democratic backlash if Mrs. Harris runs, remembering her role in the 2000 presidential election controversy when she was Secretary of State AND state chairman for the Bush/Cheney campaign...a clear conflict of interest. But a number of Democrats, especially among the traditional liberal party activists, have been quite unhappy at Senator Nelson for his precieved inaction or lack of support on several issues.

She probably feels --- and rightly so --- that Bush, Rove, and company owe her for being the loyal soldier last year when, as she apparantly wanted to run for Bob Graham's seat she was asked not to do so in favour of Mel Martinez. We'll see...