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Monday, November 28, 2005

FL-Sen: No One Wants to Work for Harris

Posted by DavidNYC

From the Herald Tribune of SW Florida:

In just under three years, U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris has had four chiefs of staff, four district directors and four press secretaries.

Harris has had to replace key people on her staff every nine months, a rate of staff turnover that far exceeds most of those in Congress.

On average, members of Congress hold onto their high-level staff for four to five years.

Turnover isn't limited to Harris' congressional office, either. As she prepares to run against Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, Harris has been hampered by turnover on her campaign staff. Her campaign manager quit last week, after just a few months on the job and not long after she lost a pollster and a campaign finance director earlier this year.

Here's the thing that I'm just not getting: Katherine Harris is not stronger than the Florida GOP or the national GOP. I mean, that goes without saying. So why the hell is she still in the race? She obviously sucks, her poll numbers are weaker than Ken Mehlman's chin, and her staff is fleeing even faster than the entire roster of the Florida Marlins.

Like the team itself, Harris may soon be on her way out. At least, that's the only prediction that makes any sense to me. On the flipside, there is one nagging detail which may ensure her presence on the ballot through next November: the Bush clan's veneration of loyalty at all costs. Competence, accuracy, skillfulness, wisdom - none of these virtues matter to Team Bush - only loyalty does. And again, it goes without saying that George Bush has every reason to remain fiercely loyal to Katherine Harris, just as she was loyal to him.

If I'm right and they do "pull a Torricelli" on Harris, then Bill Nelson better be prepared for a much more serious fight against a much more formidable opponent.

Posted at 11:24 AM in 2006 Elections - Senate, Florida | Technorati

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» Hey, Who Knew That Florida Recount Queen Katherine Harris and Ernie Fletcher Have So Much In Common? from BluegrassReport.org
Were Governor Fletcher and Rep. Katherine Harris (R-FL) separated at birth? Fletcher is already on his fifth communications director, his second running mate, his second chief of staff appears to be barely hanging on, second general counsel, not to men... [Read More]

Tracked on November 28, 2005 05:26 PM

Comments

Does anyone have an opinion on which potential GOP candidate would be Nelson's most difficult challenger if they pull a "Torricelli" with the hapless Harris?

Posted by: Mark at November 28, 2005 12:32 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment

My guess is Alan Bense, just because I get the sense that the real GOP establishment is most comfortable with him and will give him their strongest backing.

Posted by: DavidNYC at November 28, 2005 12:48 PM | Permalink | Edit Comment | Delete Comment