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Republican congressional hopeful Gus Bilirakis, left, laughs as President Bush delivers remarks today in Tampa. AP photo
From The Associated Press
ORLANDO - For months, Republican leaders tried pushing Katherine Harris out of the U.S. Senate race in hopes of finding a candidate that could win, and she responded by talking about “the party elite” with disdain at just about every campaign stop.
But now that the party is stuck with her as its candidate to face Democratic U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, Republican leaders will welcome Harris as President Bush visits Tampa and Orlando Thursday to raise money to help the party maintain the governor’s office, its hold on the Cabinet, and its dominance in the Legislature and U.S. House delegation.
Bush briefly acknowledged Harris at his first fundraising event for Republican congressional hopeful Gus Bilirakis in Tampa.
“I’m proud to be here with Congresswoman Katherine Harris, who is running for Senate,” he told a crowd of about 400 people.
The star of the evening will be Attorney General Charlie Crist, the Republican nominee to replace Gov. Jeb Bush, but Harris will join party leaders at the Orlando event expected to raise at least $2 million for the November election.
“The party invited her and we’re glad she’s able to attend,” said state Republican Party spokesman Jeff Sadosky. “The governor and Chairman (Carole Jean) Jordan both immediately supported her when she won the primary.”
But before she won the primary with less than half the vote in a four-way race, Jordan and the governor refused to back her. For months, Republican leaders in Tallahassee and Washington tried to find a candidate to defeat Harris. Gov. Bush openly said she couldn’t win, and Jordan wrote to her saying the same.
Even after the primary, she was snubbed when Jordan, Gov. Bush, Crist and every statewide Republican candidate except Harris flew around Florida for unity rallies. The party said the events were to highlight state races, not federal campaigns.
Whether she continues to talk about the party elite, Harris welcomes the opportunity to finally join them.
“She looks forward to being with the president and Charlie Crist and Gov. Jeb Bush,” said campaign spokeswoman Jennifer Marks. “We look forward to heading into November with unity.”
Once the darling of Republicans when as Florida secretary of state she oversaw the 2000 recount that handed President Bush the White House, her popularity has been in a tailspin. She’s been tied to a corrupt defense contractor, given embarrassing television interviews, endured former staffers detailing bizarre behavior and been caught at fibs that call her credibility into question.
But she is the nominee and the party plans to show support where it can even if she trails Nelson by more than 30 points in the polls and by millions of dollars in campaign contributions.
Jordan has offered to appear at events with Harris and the party plans to include her on get-out-the-vote mailings and fliers asking Republicans to vote for the entire ticket. She will also be among the candidates the party plans to showcase at events Friday and Saturday during its quarterly meetings.
Most of the money raised at Thursday’s dinner will go to state races, with the priority being to help Crist defeat Democrat Jim Davis as Jeb Bush leaves office due to term limits.
While President Bush’s poll numbers have suffered, Crist said he will be proud to receive the president’s support.
U.S. Rep. Davis’ campaign, though, is using the visit to criticize Crist.
“Nobody more clearly illustrates the need for change in our state and our nation’s leadership than George W. Bush,” said Davis spokesman Josh Earnest. “He’s going to need all the money that he can get to convince the people of Florida that the status quo is the best for Florida.”
Bilirakis’s campaign raised about $500,000 from the Tampa event, a spokeswoman said. Bush lavished praise on the Republican who is trying to win the U.S. House seat his father, Republican Rep. Mike Bilirakis, is vacating after 24 years.
“There is nothing wrong with a son following in his father’s footsteps,” Bush said, laughing.
Posted by Juanita Burrows, Monroe, Louisiana on 09/21 at 05:15 PM
Do people work in Florida...or just try to find fault with everyone?
Posted by TAMEKA JONES, valrico on 09/21 at 04:47 PM
I can’t wait till both Jeb and Dumya are out of office and the only bush I have to worry about is my own.
Posted by Ron Neu, Tampa on 09/21 at 04:13 PM
To Mr James that moved to Germany:
Do you plan to remounce your future U.S. Social Security retirement benefits since you’re now in a socialist country?
If you renounce your Social Security checks, you can help us save the social security system for all of us not so fortunate. That’s the least you can do for your former country.
Posted by Rick James, Trier Germany on 09/21 at 03:58 PM
Dont like Bush?? THEN WHY DID YOU RE-ELECT HIM!!! Folks in Europe ask me all the time… “OK, he stole Florida in 2000.. got in, 9-11 hits, Cheney smells “opportunity”...scared people and used Colin Powell to twist the intel..and dragged us into a quagmire.. Pretty Bad - but then - in 2004 - you ELECT HIM ... Again!!! (Thats when I moved to Europe) REAP WHAT YOU SOW!
Posted by Michelle M. Nichols, Tampa, FL on 09/21 at 03:33 PM
If “Bush†is uttered, some will hate. This article WAS about traffic. But since some made a bigger issue, here goes. I don’t agree with EVERY decision by Bush, I do support him. No one can make right decisions ALWAYS-sometimes there’s no right decision, just a better one. The best decision after 9/11 was to fight back. We’ve lost soldiers-but each knows their duty when they sign up. They consider it an honor to fight for and protect us (while we’re here, complaining about traffic). I’m glad Bush stands up to opposition-the world got used to our passiveness and got hurt when we stepped on toes. Let’s focus on issues from a non-bias view and make decisions AS A NATION, UNDIVIDED, UNDER GOD as intended.
Posted by Melissa Isaac, Tampa on 09/21 at 03:12 PM
It is impossible for one man to make 200 million American citizens happy, however posted comments should be educated and well thought-out, unlike those of Ana whose comments about felonious democrats proves that blatant ignorance is one of the reasons we reelected that chump in the first place.
Posted by Jay Anthony, Valrico FL on 09/21 at 02:44 PM
Any of you liberal folk notice that the Islamic fundamentalists (which were permitted by my president to speak on our land and were protected by our service men and women) were echoing the dem talking points. It is hard to determine if the Islamic extremist wrote the talking points for the dems or vise versa. Hope you’re proud.
Posted by Ron Neu, Tampa on 09/21 at 02:13 PM
If this president had focused more on AIDS and poverty, perhaps all of us would be bowing down towards Mecca by now.
Posted by lynda smith, tampa on 09/21 at 01:45 PM
any idea why the coast guard is off the courtney campbell causeway by the howard franklin chasing off all boaters?
Posted by casey weed, brandon on 09/21 at 01:24 PM
does everyone know that Tampa is nothing special? Guess what..he does this ALOT. Hes going to Orlando after this and was in New York and Washington yesterday. He travels constantly. Be thankful he wasnt going to New Tampa or Brandon..you know how bad traffic would be then??? every exit off the interstate would have to be closed. and they would rely on fire personnel to block traffic as well. We all knew he was coming in town yesterday.Plan accordingly
Posted by Michael MacQueen, Tampa on 09/21 at 01:01 PM
Mr. Braga, you are right when you say the world hates us. I roamed Europe for a year and was spit on in Paris, cursed by Brits, and nearly killed because of an Islamic terrorist incident.
THE YEAR WAS 1961! in recent memory we had liberated these same Europeans and given their countries back to them. They hate us because they’re JEALOUS. We’ve accomplished so much in so little time, historically.
Be PROUD, not apologetic
Posted by Donnie Morris, Tampa, Florida on 09/21 at 12:39 PM
Traffic has been bad since 7am. I am not going to bash the president, the job he is doing is moving us closer to the negative economically. Most countries have folded with a $9 TRILLION deficit, why are we better? We can agree the wind of change needs to be a unified government to help move us into a positive light on all fronts. The world is plagued with HIV/AIDS and hard ships, our leaders are burying their head in the sand. Really, no one is right wrong or indifferent. We are all American and all in this together. It really goes to show you from the comments that we live in a society that forgets the past when it is convenient and focus on the pessimistic views when it suits their agenda.
Posted by Kevin Arnold, Tampa on 09/21 at 12:37 PM
People seem to forget that the trade centers DID get bombed when Clinton was in office, but Clinton DIDN’T do anything about it and look what happened. Maybe if the Democrats were a little more aggressive (other than the oval office) we woulnt be in this tight situation, which Bush is working hard to resolve.
Posted by Richard Carroll, Tampa Florida on 09/21 at 12:35 PM
Joyce you need to ease up. You been on line for how long, maybe self employed is not a good thing for you. If you have had any type of investments in the last 6 years, they have done very well. Stop trying to get the goverment to fix your problems. You think Bush was responsible for 9-11, sorry we had how many attacks before Bush. Stop whining , get off you butt and do something for your family.
Posted by Joe Parker, Saint Petersburg on 09/21 at 12:34 PM
Bush’s “lies” were based on intellegence reports (largely collected during the Clinton administration, by agencies that the Dems foolishly underfunded and over-regulated). Bush had no reason to believe that they were wrong ... but, by god, we’d be in such a better place if Saddam and the Taliban were still in power in Iraq and Afganistan respectively. The nearly 3,000 lives lost on Sept. 11 were a result of much of what happened during the “8 glorious Clinton” years ... and that number is still larger than the number of soliers we have lost ... and not a single American life lost to terrorists on our soil in 5 years. (You can’t say that about AIDS or poverty, so what hass Billy-bob really been doing in Harlem?)
Posted by Joe Parker, Saint Petersburg on 09/21 at 12:34 PM
Let’s get this straight for all you revisionist historians: Clinton was not impeached for having sex; he was impeached (and law license revoked) for committing purjury ... which is a crime in every state. They proved that he KNEW he was giving false testimony under oath to protect only himself. That is lying for the sake of lying.
Posted by Jaime Jacko, Tampa on 09/21 at 12:31 PM
Poeple need to stop bashing our President..it doesn’t matter who it is people will bash any President, if you don’t like him get off your ass and vote. My problem with these fund raisers are 300 people at 1000.00 that a fair amount of money that could be used to re-build some homes New Orleans or provide assistance for some battered womens shelters. Selfish creedy politicians. Mr. Bilirakis doesn’t need to raise anymore funds if he is half the man his Father is he will be able to win any election.
Posted by Edward Swartz, New Port Richey on 09/21 at 12:27 PM
Some people posting here need to use Word and the “preview” button before posting. We obviously are spending way too much time bickering and not enough time on our spelling and grammar. We are so dependent on “spell check”. WOW!! No wonder kids are in trouble with education. By the way, time for a change!
Posted by Ron Ervin, Brandon on 09/21 at 12:21 PM
Honestly, do any of you who are bickering back and forth have anything better or more constructive to do with your time??
Posted by Josh Parks, tampa, FL on 09/21 at 12:18 PM
Some of our greatest presidents wore wigs, had wooden teeth and were ailed by chronic deseases. It’s not what or how a man says something, but what he does that really counts. Give our president a little credit - we are living in a new era, unprecedented by any other. Sure, he can’t speak, and may not do everything right, but at least he’s doing his best, and not some white house secratary.
Posted by Joyce Taylor, Tampa, FL on 09/21 at 12:17 PM
Way to go Mike in Lutz. My sentiments exactly. Democrats need to take over in November and clean up the mess the Republicans are ALWAYS making.
Posted by michael braga, lutz, fl on 09/21 at 11:56 AM
I am amazed that peopleconstantly pick on Clinton, but at least the country was in good shape for 8 yrs with him, and we he lied he was attacked by the republicans horribly, yet Bush lies and he doesn’t get impeached, thousands of people have died no thanks to him and people and leaders all across the world hate us thanks to him and his ego!, I only hope the Democrats take control in November and put his butt in jail!
Posted by Randy Rados, Tampa on 09/21 at 11:55 AM
Waste of tax payers money? Better things to do? There is more money coming into the govt. than ever before. Bush and Repubs. tax cuts. An economy that is up, because of Bush and Repubs. policies. No attacks on this country in 5 years. Who is in charge? Bush and Repubs. So if it takes tax payers money and the President’s time to keep things on the up. Here is my $1000 a plate. And for the Dems. out there, what is solution for anything? What would do?
Posted by LORI ROUNDS, TAMPA, FL on 09/21 at 11:50 AM
OK WHILE ALL OF THIS IS RATHER ENTERTAINING TO READ...THE STORY IS ABOUT POSSIBLE TRAFFIC DELAYS BECAUSE OF HIS VISIT! AND AS FOR THE GUY WHO MADE THE COMMENT ABOUT THE BUCS...VERY FUNNY!
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Posted by Kevin Arnold, Tampa on 09/21 at 08:34 PM
Do people in Monroe, Louisiana have nothing better to do than see what people in Florida are talking about?