The GOP should have gone for a viable candidate who'd not put her foot in her mouth all the time and that wouldn't be a huge draw for Democrats to come out and vote against her. This was a mistake from the get-go, many of us saw that but were flamed for saying so. Money or no money Harris' campaign is too inept to have ever accomplished much which is a shame since the empty suit Nelson was emminently beatable.
Jeb Bush, Bense, and Franks all declined to run. I don't know how many times this has to be pointed out. If you didn't want Harris then beat her in the primary. The woman announced her Senate candidacy way back in June of 2005. There was plenty of time for the GOP establishment to scrounge up someone to run against her.