THE EFFORT TO DERAIL HARRIS CONTINUES IN THE GOP

Some of us had thought that prominent Republicans had ended their effort to derail Congresswoman Katherine Harris' campaign for the U.S. Senate, having not found anyone to take the bait. But that effort is continuing.

It's no secret that key people in the GOP consider the former Florida Secretary of State's run for Bill Nelson's seat is too much of a lightning rod for Democrats and independent progressives because of her dual role in 2000 as co-chair of the Bush presidential campaign in Florida and her official job, especially during and in the aftermath of the count. Several people have reportedly been approached to challenge Harris for the Republican nomination and the right to face Nelson in the general election.

Now, the Pensacola News Journal is reporting that former Panhandle congressman and current MSNBC talk show host Joe Scarborough has met with senior GOP leaders seeking him to get back into the political spotlight. Scarborough does his nightly programme from Pensacola, where his MSNBC biography says he is also a partner in the law firm of Levin, Papantonio where he practices enviromential law (but his name is not on the list of attorney profiles).

Watching Imus In The Morning, the host asked one of his guests today --- I believe it was Tom Friedman of the New York Times --- why Scarborough left elective politics. The answer was a combination of things: He had gotten to where he really wanted to get into TV (he had been a regular guest on Hardball) full time, he was getting tired of DC, and he was going through a divorce at the time.

Personally, I don't think this will pan out, either. That means Scarborough would have to give up his TV show, and it would be a rough primary race. Whoever would win the GOP primary would be severely weakened having to go up against Nelson in the general election.

U P D A T E - 7:12 PM: The Buzz has apparantly spoken with Scarborough, and says this afternoon that he is unlikely to run. However, he is talking with family and political leaders before making a decision. Scarborough says he is happy with his TV show, and while the deal with MSNBC expires in March he says the cable news channel has agreed to extend it.