I Think This Could Be Wise

Allan Bense is not running for the U.S. Senate.
The popular speaker of the Florida House wants to spend more time with his family and pursue business interests instead.
Republicans from Tallahassee to Washington had been looking on Bense as a potential rescuer in their quest to unseat Democrat Bill Nelson. The news ricocheted through both capitals Wednesday morning.
“He would have made an excellent U.S. senator,” said former Florida Republican Party chairman Al Cardenas, among those who had staked their hopes on Bense. “This was strictly a personal call, since the opportunity to run for the U.S. Senate comes, at best, once in a lifetime.”

I would hold that statement true for Katharine Harris, as she’s squandered what ever good will/name value she had in an ill-advised political move on her part to begin with. I think Bense knows that and the face of the campaign against Bill Nelson was now always going to be Harris’s, even if he ran. Wasn’t worth him running damage control for issues over which he had no control. Nope. Better to sit back, let her continue to implode against a very charismatic, popular U.S.Senator ~ an astronaut, for God’s sake ~ and take his shot when he can start out fresh. On his own.

One Response to “I Think This Could Be Wise”

1. Dave J says:

   May 10, 2006 at 11:35 pm

   It’s a shame, yes, but I also think we haven’t seen the last of Mr. Bense. He may go back to private life in Panama City for a few years, but isn’t that part of Charlie Clary’s state Senate district? If I remember correctly, Clary’s termed out fairly soon, and has had rumors around him about running for CFO at some point. Ideal for Bense to step into, I’d think, especially given his current (but probably not permanent) objections to going to DC.
   Of course, as usual, take my comments for the idle speculation they are.