HARRIS TO UNDERGO SURGERY TO REMOVE MASS

Congresswoman and U.S. Senate candidate Katherine Harris (R - Longboat Key) that she would undergo surgery a week from Monday (17 July) to remove an ovarian mass which would be tested to determine if it is malignant.

Her campaign office said she would visit Walter Reed Army Medical Centre near Washington this Monday for preoptive testing, and campaign spokesman Chris Ingram said that her doctors are saying the mass has little risk of malignancy.

The congresswoman said she is hoping for a speedy recovery and return to work both in Congress and on the campaign trail.

UPDATE (07/10/2006 - 07:40 AM): Apparantly Congresswoman Harris' staff received the news while she was appearing before a GOP womens' group in Polk County. Lakeland Ledger political columnist Bill Rufty wrote for this morning's edition that Ms. Harris lost her temper after aides refused to allow a Q-and-A session with the audience, as her deputy press secretary explained her sudden exit was due to a personal matter that could not wait.

Ms. Harris later called reporters who had been present to apologize, and the short, terse press release regarding the medical procedures was released later Friday.