04/05/2002 Archived Entry: "Republicans with a spine: FL: CD-13"
A pleasurable reading from Sarasota, Harris is shown the door: Candidate didn't have a ticket for a Tiger Bay Club event. Too bad the paper's photo of Harris getting turned away isn't pulling up. I want to see the photo!
The secretary of state tried to attend. She wanted to hear former U.S. House Speaker Newt Gingrich, the scheduled speaker. But she was turned away just inside the door by club President Marj Baldwin, a 77-year-old fellow Republican famed around town for her blunt, stick-to-the-rules style.
Baldwin said the event was sold out and Harris knew that. Still, Baldwin said, Harris tried to get in through the wine store next to Michael's On East restaurant, before asking if she could pay membership dues and get a seat....
Baldwin also was upset that, instead of calling her directly earlier this week, Harris' office contacted the Washington Speakers Bureau, the Virginia agency that booked Gingrich's speech, to see about getting a ticket.
"To assume that her fame and wealth would get her a ticket from Washington, D.C., she certainly made a big mistake there," Baldwin said....
"I don't have that much respect for Katherine because of the way she has conducted herself throughout the Senate and secretary of state campaigns," Baldwin said. "She broke a lot of rules."
Tried to sneak in via the wine store?!? Too bad Harris looks like a shoe-in for the Sarasota-based 13th district.
Replies: 6 comments
As it is, a Moonie hack put out an article a couple of days ago that details the top opponent of Harris for CD-13 in Florida, Hillary fan club behind Harris challenger. Not that Hillary or Bill are even backing Schneider's campaign, with numbers like this: In Sarasota County, the principal county in the district, 41 of 42 elected offices are held by Republicans, and registered Republicans outnumer registered Democrats by 116,000 to 69,000.
"Actually, I wish I could get a cut of all the money the Democrats have made using my name," Mrs. Harris said. "The Democrats said I would be a national punching bag. I realize that the media have made me a caricature. But in my district, people know me; they know who I am."
Yea, take it from Marj Baldwin, even Republicans know her and don't like her.
27 year old reporter reporter Candice Brown McElyea is also running. According to the Moonies, she "promised she will approach activist/actor Alec Baldwin at next week's Florida Democratic Party convention and request an appearance here on her behalf." We'll be looking forward to this!
Here's a little background by Buzzflash: BuzzFlash Interviews Candice McElyea
Posted by myDD @ 04/05/2002 01:07 PM PST
Mydd, (Jerome)
Great idea for the weblog-I look forward to learning new developements on this site.
Posted by Mr. Liberal @ 04/06/2002 04:38 PM PST
Thanks, be sure and keep us updated on the happenings in NJ. I'll make a post on the races there soon.
Posted by myDD @ 04/06/2002 06:46 PM PST
Good follow-up here from ABC on Harris, who they also conclude will win easily: Re-Running Florida, 2000
THe bulk of the article though deals with Roberts vs Shaw, which will be a top national race.
Posted by myDD @ 04/08/2002 08:08 AM PST
Jerome, (do you mind if I call you that?)
I celebrated my birthday yesterday, and recieved a birthday present in the form of a political job! I'm working for a Summit Politician, a friend of my mom's best friend. It should be fun.
Posted by Mr. Liberal @ 04/10/2002 03:38 PM PST
More on that sneaking toad Harris:
During a Schneider fund-raiser at a Sarasota golf club, Democrats said they were heartened by the recent flap over Harris's efforts to attend a Gingrich banquet at the Tiger Bay Club, a local group featuring political speakers.
The club's Republican president, Marj Baldwin, said she received hundreds of congratulatory faxes, phone calls and e-mails from Democrats and Republicans after turning Harris away from the event three times because it was sold out.
The third time, Baldwin said, she had block Harris as she tried to sneak in and make a beeline for Gingrich.
``I said 'Katherine, you can't do that, what is wrong with you?''' Baldwin said. Harris said the controversy, which won big play in the local press, was silly and claims she tried to sneak into the event were ``an outrageous lie.''
``How do I possibly sneak into a political event in my own hometown?'' Harris asked.
Responded Baldwin: ``She is not telling the truth, honey.''
``The party has rammed her down everybody's throat,'' Baldwin said of Harris. ``You just don't know. I have a feeling the voters who say they're for Katherine might get in the booth and vote for anybody but Katherine.''
Posted by myDD @ 04/17/2002 02:02 AM PST
