Florida House Speaker Allan Bense (R) said that he will not run for Senate in 2006, leaving Rep. Katherine Harris (R-FL) "alone for now in her quest to defeat incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson," the Bradenton Herald reports. "Republican leaders began courting Bense to run for the seat" out of concern that Harris -- "who played a role in stopping the ballot recount in the contested 2000 presidential election -- would be a lightning rod for negative sentiment from Democrats."
According to the Palm Beach Post, Benseís decision leaves Rep. Mark Foley (R-FL) "as the only potential contender for Harris. He said Wednesday he has not decided whether to run for Nelson's seat, but has plenty of time left to jump in."