Taegan Goddard's Political Wire

August 04, 2005

Bense Declines to Challenge Harris in Primary

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."

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Taegan D. Goddard is the creator of Political Wire, a political column updated around the clock with the most interesting news, buzz and commentary.

Goddard is also co-author of You Won - Now What? (Scribner, 1998), a political management book hailed by prominent journalists and politicians from both parties. In addition, Goddard's essays on politics and public policy have appeared in dozens of newspapers across the country, including the Washington Post, USA Today, Boston Globe, San Francisco Chronicle, Chicago Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer and Christian Science Monitor.

This is a personal site and does not necessarily reflect the views of any company, political campaign or advocacy group.

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