WILL THE BUSH BROTHERS ACTIVELY SNUB HARRIS IN GOP PRIMARY?

St. Petersburg Times political columnist Adam C. Smith basically asks that question in today's column, noting that Jeb! is pushing the likelyhood of Florida House Speaker Allan Bense (R - Panama City) making a run for Bill Nelson's U.S. Senate seat. A couple of quotes from Jeb!:

"I have a lot of respect for Allan Bense. I really do think he is a well-qualified guy."

"I have respect for Katherine Harris. I've had a closer working relationship with Allan."

The idea is that Harris, thanks to her role as Secretary of State and co-chair of President Bush's 2000 campaign in Florida, continues to this day as a polarizing force in state politics. A recent Mason-Dixon survey shows that Nelson would handily win a head-to-head contest with Harris --- 53 to 36 percent --- and that only 69 percent of Republicans said they would vote for her, significantly below the level of support that both Bushes had winning their elections. Not only that, but 30 percent of respondants said they have an unfavourable opinion of Ms. Harris, actually higher than two years ago.

Jeb's role in touting Bense goes against tradition for governors to remain neutral in their party's primary races. But Jeb and his brother are significantly concerned about Harris' candidacy and it's effect on other races on the ballot --- especially the governor's race --- in looking for other options.

They're not the only ones. Brian Nick of the National Republican Senatorial Committee is not ruling out the possibility of his group supporting a candidate in a GOP primary race, telling Smith "We're going to do what's necessary to win."

It really doesn't matter, 'cause either would have an uphill battle at best against Nelson. While the Democratic incumbant isn't the most colourful guy or greatest campaigner, he's generally done well and is not a polarizing figure like Harris. And Bense will have to do one heckuva job to get name familiarity across Florida out of the "Redneck Rivera" to even come close to challenging Nelson.

You should also check out this column by Peter A. Brown in Friday's Orlando Sentinel, who says that "If she is half as smart as her Harvard graduate degree suggests, she should be pretty frightened already."