Incumbent Nelson faces Harris challenge in Senate race

Mercury News ^ | Nov. 07, 2006 | MITCH STACY

[NautiNurse]

TAMPA, Fla. - Katherine Harris has insisted all along that she could unseat U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson if she could energize the state's strong Republican base. She'll learn Tuesday night how successful that effort has been.

Voters heading to the polls Tuesday had a clear choice between Harris, the conservative congresswoman who made her name overseeing Florida's recount in the disputed 2000 election, and Nelson, the staid, centrist Democratic senator who's been spent more than three decades in public office.

Harris had her work cut out for her. Nelson has led the Longboat Key congresswoman by as much as 30 percentage points in recent polls, and political experts doubt she was able to close the gap in the waning days of the campaign, despite reasonably solid performances in two debates.

Lack of money has kept her from running statewide TV ads since the September primary, in which she beat three political newcomers. She has focused her campaign efforts on Republican groups and public events, but wasn't allowed to sit on stage Monday as President Bush spoke at a Pensacola campaign rally.

[NautiNurse]

[Ken522]

I hope Katherine Harris wins!

[NautiNurse]

This morning I rose before the sun was up
and planted Katherine Harris for Senate signs
at my voting precinct.

[NautiNurse]

Harris certainly has my vote over that liberal who showed signs and symptoms of dementia during the debates.

[Humal]

"wasn't allowed to sit on stage Monday as President Bush spoke at a Pensacola campaign rally."

Why?

Crist, I heard, snubbed the President yesterday and didn't show.

[NautiNurse]

Don't know, and at this point it doesn't matter except that Terry McAwful is making fodder of it this morning.

Call your elderly and/or infirm neighbors and offer to drive them to the polls today.

[khnyny]

LOL. That's funny. Nelson does have a rather alien look to him, lol. Seriously, 30 years is long enough. I really hope Harris wins today, but unfortunately, elections are usually won by the candidate with the most money.

[linn37]

I just saw goofy Terry predict a six seat win in the Senate and 40 seats in the house. All these years and he still has'nt been able to kick his drug habit. ;^)

[Joe Brower]

Florida Freeper

[prov1813man]

There must be something nobody wants to talk about. I don't understand it otherwise. Seems we owe her. She got my vote today.

[NautiNurse]

With tremendous grass roots support, a candidate can beat an empty suit.

[grannylinedancer]

Local TV stated that Harris arrived at Bush's Campaign stop and ASKED to be allowed to be on stage with Bush and the Rest of those Republicans campaigning for office. SOMEONE in charge told her NO. So she sat in the Audience. TV Clips show Bush asking the crowd to "Vote for Katherine Harris", then the Camera panned to her sitting in the Crowd. I thought it was SHAMEFUL and The president and JEB should be ashamed of themselves for treating this lady so shabbily. It certainly made them look SMALL in my book. What could have it hurt to allow her to STAND on Stage? I voted for her!

[subterfuge]

Voted this am for Harris and my wife is doing the same.

[Old Grumpy]

"Crist, I heard, snubbed the President yesterday and didn't show."

Local news last night had this explanation: Pensacola is heavily Republican and Crist had already been there, and had too many other cities to visit yesterday, so . . .

[khnyny]

[With tremendous grass roots support, a candidate can beat an empty suit.]

I certainly hope so! I'm not too thrilled with the way the Republican party has treated Harris. That being said, that in no way makes me not want to vote Republican, as the Democrats have nothing to offer.

[jwparkerjr]

Crist's people had said late last week that he would not be there for the rally. He said he felt it would do more for his candidacy if he continued to work the area in SE Florida. Might be just an excuse, but on the surface it makes sense. At least our excuses have some basis in fact, unlike the BS Kerry and his side come up with!

I don't see how Crist on the stage with the President would change anyone's vote, but I can certainly see how having a chance to hear him speak in person could change a vote.

Of course the Lefties/MSM would much prefer to have voters believe that Crist's failure to appear with the President is evidence of how badly the President is failing in the eyes of even his own party. There has been so much spin this election cycle I'm surprised that Earth can maintain its orbit around the sun!

[NautiNurse]

Voted this am for Harris and my wife is doing the same.

Good news! Please encourage your conservative co-workers, neighbors, family and friends to vote today. Offer to take them to the precinct if necessary!

[rep-always]

Just voted for Katherine Harris. It was busy here in Miami-Dade County. I voted at 7am and there must have been about 60 people already in front of me voting. Busy day. But prayed really hard this morning.

[NautiNurse]

Thanks for checking in and giving a local precinct update.

[gondramB]

>>"wasn't allowed to sit on stage Monday as President Bush spoke at a Pensacola campaign rally."

Why?

Crist, I heard, snubbed the President yesterday and didn't show.<<

Yep, Crist chose to skip appearing with the governor and President while Harris showed up for a photo op and wasn't allowed on the stage according to the morning news show on CW network.

They may be slightly biased since three different times the refferred to Crist as "the soon to be gay governor of Florida although he denies it."