Florida's Katherine Harris May Shake Up 2004 Season

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MIAMI - One of the central figures in the contentious 2000 presidential recount in Florida, former secretary of state Katherine Harris, may soon find herself in the middle of another presidential contest — as a GOP candidate for U.S. Senate.
Harris, now a first-term congresswoman, is weighing a decision to enter the Republican primary to compete for the seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Bob Graham.


Her presence could dramatically shake up the race and complicate President Bush's re-election plans in a key electoral state.


"I think it's a forgone conclusion if she enters the race ... she will be the immediate front-runner," said former state GOP chairman Al Cardenas.


Harris said she needs to consult with the Bush administration and close friends before making a final decision. But her announcement is expected soon.


Despite her freshman status in Washington, Harris has solid name recognition among Florida voters and impressive fund-raising ability. She collected about $3 million in her first bid for Congress and has used her star power to help Republican candidates around the nation.


Her presence in a Senate race also would bring back memories of the 2000 presidential election recount, when, as secretary of state, she oversaw the disputed count that gave George W. Bush a crucial 537-vote victory over Al Gore in Florida.


Some Republicans worry it would stir up Democrats still upset about that loss and could harm the president's re-election prospects.


"If Katherine Harris gets in, both the media and the Democrats will bring up 2000," said University of North Florida political scientist Matthew Corrigan. "It's something the Republicans don't want to talk about, and if Katherine Harris is the nominee, it's going to be difficult not to."


"She has been placed in a unique situation because of her accidental role in the 2000 recount," said Justin Sayfie, a former aide to Gov. Jeb Bush, the president's brother. "It provides her a lot of media attention in Florida and nationally on the positive side and on the downside opens her up to becoming a focal point for Democratic leaders who want to remind their base about her role in the recount."


White House advisers have encouraged former housing secretary Mel Martinez to enter the Senate race, hoping he would energize Hispanics and attract unaligned voters in central Florida.


Republicans have also urged Harris to wait until 2006 and run against Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson.


"That's a nice thought, but given the choice between an open seat or an incumbent, that's a really easy decision," Harris told The Miami Herald last week.


A poll released last month found Harris with the support of 29 percent of GOP voters, followed by former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum with 15 percent, and Martinez with 11 percent. The telephone survey of 800 registered voters was conducted Dec. 1-3 for The Miami Herald and St. Petersburg Times and had a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 5 percent. Thirty-eight percent of Republicans were undecided.


The Republican field also includes House Speaker Johnnie Byrd, state Sen. Daniel Webster, Miami lawyer Larry Klayman and former New Hampshire Sen. Bob Smith, who moved to Sarasota last spring.


Democrats running for the seat are Rep. Peter Deutsch, Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas and former state education commissioner Betty Castor.