Republican Rep. Katherine Harris, a central figure in the bitterly contested 2000 presidential election recount controversy, easily won a second congressional term representing southwest Florida’s 13th District.
Harris’ race was a rematch of her 2002 race with Democrat lawyer Jan Schneider. Ironically, with 100 percent of the precincts reporting, Harris won 190,205 votes, or 55 percent, compared to Schneider’s 153,747 votes, or 45 percent ? the same percentage she won with two years ago.
The rematch came about after Harris decided not to run for Florida’s open Senate seat amid apparent concerns at the White House.
 Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Fla. |
WorldNetDaily reported the congresswoman announced in January she would defer her run for the Senate and work to ensure a Republican fills the seat left open with the retirement of Democratic Sen. Bob Graham.
“So after careful deliberation I am here to announce my candidacy for the United States Senate,” Harris said. “But just not yet this year.”
Some GOP strategists feared a Harris candidacy this year would hurt the president’s re-election chances in the key swing state by stirring up animosities and reviving accusations over Al Gore’s 537-vote loss.
The candidacy of former U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez – apparently at the White House’s prodding – added to the controversy surrounding Harris’ possible Senate run.
The object of Democratic furor, Harris’ ruling as secretary of state in the 2000 election helped bring an end to the recount, told in “Center of the Storm,”, published by WorldNetDaily’s publishing division, WND Books.
“As far as I’m concerned it was a unique time in my life and I’ve moved on,” the Palm Beach Post quoted Harris as saying late Tuesday. “I am thrilled where I am just at this moment.”
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Jack Cashill