Posted on 08/25/2006 8:22:12 PM PDT by JulieRNR21
CAMPAIGN 2006 | U.S. SENATE Harris thrills Broward fans
Republican U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris reveled in her underdog status Thursday during campaign appearances in Democrat-friendly Broward County.
BY ERIKA BOLSTAD ebolstad@MiamiHerald.com
As a U.S. Senate hopeful who's expected to take on an incumbent U.S. senator with a 30-point lead, Katherine Harris knows all about being an underdog.
But Thursday, the Sarasota congresswoman was among fellow Republican underdogs, as she brought her Senate campaign to a place with more Democratic voters than any other county in the state.
''We're all fighting the good fight,'' Harris told Republican supporters gathered in Davie for a Republican club meeting.
Harris leads three lesser-known GOP candidates going into the Sept. 5 primary, but when it comes to taking on Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson in November, Harris is 30 points down.
Thursday, she picked up the endorsement of Tom Truex, the Davie mayor who has turned his central Broward County town into a Republican island in a sea of Democratic voters.
Harris also popped into the Republican Club of Century Village in Pembroke Pines -- another place where Republicans have long been underdogs.
But among the 40 Republicans gathered Thursday night in Davie, Harris was their underdog. Their rock star. Their political icon. And a sight for sore eyes for lonely Republicans.
`THRILLED'
''You've just thrilled the daylights out of me,'' beamed Hank Lippe, 64, a Pembroke Pines retiree and founding member of the Southwest Broward Political Organization.
On Sept. 5, Harris faces three lesser-known candidates: LeRoy Collins Jr., Will McBride and Peter Monroe. All three trail Harris in the polls.
''Forget about the polls,'' Truex told the crowd Thursday night. ``There's one poll that counts and it's the one on Election Day.''
But the troubles keep coming for Harris.
Dozens of staffers have quit her campaign. And even top Republicans like Gov. Jeb Bush encouraged her not to run for the statewide seat.
In an interview before her appearance in Davie, Harris brushed it all aside -- including the larger-than-life image she knows everyone has of her.
''I think it's a caricature that they like to create, and it's not going to stick,'' Harris said. ``When people meet me, they say I'm nothing like what the liberals have tried to make of me.''
PRESS DISMISSED
So far, Harris has failed to garner any endorsements from any major Florida newspaper, a vote of no-confidence that she dismisses with a wave of her hand.
''I did not anticipate editorial board endorsements,'' Harris said. ``I didn't even bother to go to a lot of the editorial boards. It doesn't matter.''
Especially not to Republican voters like Cassie Mires, 32, of Miami, who stopped by to see Harris on her way home from her Broward School Board job. Like Lippe, she was clearly charmed.
''I support a woman whose doing anything positive for the community,'' said Mires, a former staffer for former Republican congressman, J.C. Watts Jr. of Oklahoma.
''I like that she's tenacious. And she just keeps going,'' Mires added.
She's already proven herself while under fire. I cannot understand why the Pubbies are not united behind her.
The party has been banging my phone, internet and secret hideout for weeks, asking for money. Sorry, until you guys support Harris, or a viable substitute, my bucks go to Kate...
Regardless, Why is not Jeb or some other high profile Republican, Tommy Franks etc. taking on this liberal ponce?
Since she has some opposition in the primary... the FL GOP is not endorsing anyone before Sept. 5
When she wins the Primary that will change....
The rabid liberal FL press hates Harris with a passion second only to their hatred of GWB.
Her own hometown paper is owned by the NY Times and it attacks her constantly.
She does not need to get any newspaper endorsements....the FL grassroots are the key for her to beat Nelson.
With the GOP base behind her....she an do it!
She is indeed a very pretty lady! I hope she wins against all odds.
Just wait and see what happens after she wins the FL Primary!
I hope so.
Man,she really does. thanks for posting the pic
Katherine Harris gets a warm welcome from her Republican base in Democrat-friendly Broward County.
PING
40 folks. That has to be a record.
Did she get her starbucks just right?
Tammy-Faye Harris is a control freak, obsessed with minor details, and abuses her staff.
She is a white cynthia mckinee.
Good for her on the election thing, but she is still tamy-Faye.
This is pretty funny, Catherine interns, talking to yourselves.
It won't work.
We are against you, Tammy-Faye.
And you went all religeous, too. Good move. NOT.
Uh, because they declined?
Where have you been? Nobody but Harris has the guts to challenge Nelson.
Beat it troll
LOL!
Mouse over my name, for a date on this forum, newbie.
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