Posted on 03/10/2011 9:17:04 PM PST by Qbert
Republicans in Washington are trying to recruit Joe Scarborough to run against Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) next year.
Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), who heads the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), told The Hill on Thursday that he has talked to Scarborough a couple times about a Senate bid. And he indicated he’s still working on persuading the MSNBC host to run for the upper chamber.
“I’d be delighted to talk to him a third time,” Cornyn said. In 2005, Republican campaign operatives tried to get Scarborough to challenge Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Fla.) in the Senate GOP primary. Scarborough passed, and Nelson subsequently trounced Harris in the midterm elections.
Cornyn noted on Thursday that Scarborough’s name ID is higher now than it was back then. Scarborough has been with MSNBC for the past eight years, initially hosting “Scarborough Country” and now “Morning Joe.”
Scarborough is happy with what he is doing, Cornyn stressed. But Cornyn also made it clear that he thinks there is a chance Scarborough could run.
There has been speculation that Scarborough may launch a 2012 presidential bid or be a vice presidential candidate. Scarborough, a former House member, has not ruled out running for another political office. He will turn 48 next month.
Scarborough could not be reached for comment as of press time.
State Senate President Mike Haridopolos is already in the race for the Republican nomination, but the early days of his campaign have been dogged by an ethics controversy.
Other possible Republican candidates include former Sen. George LeMieux, Reps. Connie Mack and Vern Buchanan and former state House Majority Leader Adam Hasner. Former Gov. Jeb Bush (R) has also been mentioned.
A recent poll by Mason-Dixon Polling Research shows that Nelson, who is serving his second term, is under the 50 percent mark against possible Republican challengers in five hypothetical match-ups. However, the only one who was ahead of Nelson is Bush, who is not expected to run. Scarborough was not included in that poll.
Scarborough would be viewed as a major recruiting victory for Cornyn. Democrats have a 53-47 majority over Republicans in the Senate, but they are defending 23 seats next year, while the GOP is defending only 10.
The Texas Republican has stressed this year that the NRSC will be far less involved in primaries than it was last cycle, when a few of its prized recruits were defeated.
In sharp contrast to other GOP figures, Scarborough has publicly ripped former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R). He has also sharply criticized conservative talk show host Rush Limbaugh and former Speaker Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.), who is expected to announce a bid for president this year.
Scarborough served with Gingrich, having been elected to the House in the historic class of 1994. He was easily reelected in 1996, 1998 and 2000. He resigned from the House in 2001.
joke...
Joe is a lib...he would be more at home in the dem party
She’s busy running a B&B in P-town.
“This proves Cornyn is insane. He needs to be locked up in a padded sell with Sheen.”
LOL
Please tell me this is a sarcastic post, Christ Cristi Redux/par du
Scarborough is another elitist RINO.
We need better than that from a conservative state; Fla isn’t Massachusetts.
Two questions:
What was that you just threw in the punchbowl?
Does the FLA Tea Party have a candidate?
“Enough with the RINOs already.
The GOP is going to extinct(sic) itself in short order.”
It’s almost as if they’re deliberately trying to p-— everybody off. I mean, a backstabber like Scarborough? What’s next- asking David Frum and Kathleen Parker to run for office?
If he was the same Scarborough as he had been before being influenced by the media elite this would be fine...but the post MSNBC influence would not be a good candidate let alone a reliable Senator - not wanting to offend his old media friends.
Sounds just about right for these RINOs. They slept through the 2010 election and still haven’t admitted that it happened. Maybe Ed Schultz is available? Charlie Sheen is out of a gig.
Her name was Lori Klausutis:
http://broadcatching.wordpress.com/2007/09/17/joe-scarbourough-still-can%E2%80%99t-shake-his-past/
Ouch!
Hey how about Crist again since that worked out so well?
Put down the pipe Cornyn.
don’t you have to be a republican to run for the republican party?
Doofus.
Scarborough fits perfectly.........at PMSnbc
“What was that you just threw in the punchbowl?”
—A little of Cornyn’s special sauce that makes everybody sick to his stomach, unfortunately.
“Does the FLA Tea Party have a candidate?”
—If they didn’t before- they sure will now!
Bloody hell...
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