GOP TRYING TO MAKE LIKE EVERYONE'S GETTING ALONG AND BACK TO NORMAL

I wonder what the tension level will be Thursday evening in Orlando, now that Congresswoman and U.S. Senate candidate Katherine Harris says she will be at a reception benefiting the Republican Party of Florida and GOP gubernatorial candidate Charlie Crist.

Also in attendance will be President Bush and his brother, the governor.

Q, the political blog of the Palm Beach Post, noted that Harris' schedule had her in Washington Thursday to participate in votes on immigration legislation, then attending a Republican club meeting near Jacksonville about the same time as the Orlando event; it's still on her campaign schedule this morning.

Of course, you may remember that many within the GOP elite on both the state and national levels tried to find another candidate to carry the party's banner in the race against Democratic incumbant Bill Nelson, even though many --- including Karl Rove --- promised their support in exchange for Harris' withdrawing from the U.S. Senate race last year in favour of Mel Martinez.

While one can guess that all is not quite forgiven on Ms. Harris' part, I'm sure that everyone will be on their best behaviour tomorrow evening in putting up a good facade of togetherness on the party's behalf. But it's only a facade.