Harris' Senate run worries many in her party
By Jill Lawrence, USA TODAY
FANNING SPRINGS, Fla. — Amid the sweaty crowds at Red Belly Day, bypassing the gospel singers, the funnel cakes and the belly-flop contest in the Suwannee River, the true believers find their way to Rep. Katherine Harris.
They offer up their loyalty, their votes, their view that her fellow Republicans should be giving her more support. "Aren't people sweet?" the Sarasota congresswoman asks as she dispenses hugs.
The woman who oversaw the 2000 presidential vote recount in Florida is running for the GOP Senate nomination — inspiring dread among many in her party. Whether they measure by fundraising, polls, disarray, ethics, strange behavior or potential to polarize, they see trouble.
Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, seeking a second term, is polling twice as high as Harris. Gov. Jeb Bush, saying Harris could not win, staged a search for an alternative.
To no avail. The Sept. 5 primary will pit three little-known latecomers against the high-profile Harris.
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-06-04-harris-senate_x.htm