The already-reeling MSNBC might be looking at a major defection, as 10 PM host Joe Scarborough is said to be mulling an entry into next year's Florida Senate race. Scarborough, a former Congressman, has been approached by Republican officials said to be squeemish about heading into a general election with controversial 2000 recount figure Katherine "Cruela De Vil" Harris as the GOP standard-bearer.
If Scarborough succeeds, I suggest Keith Olbermann run for governor of New York.
Posted by Stephen Silver at August 17, 2005 10:32 PMSorry Joe, I am all for Cruela De Vil, who would surely lose in the general:)
Posted by: A at August 17, 2005 10:53 PMScarborough running for Florida Senator spot???
Couldn't happen to a better state...oh, wait, the only thing better would be if he ran in California. Both states deserve an ass like Scarborough.
Posted by: John B. at August 18, 2005 10:18 AMA, I suppose you're an expert on Florida politics, too? Or do I need to remind you that Kathy Harris has won statewide office before, and despite the baggage from the 2000 election, is still extremely popular? Given that she's from Sarasota, she also plays better into the battleground areas of the state than Scarborough from the solidly GOP Panhandle.
John B, while I wouldn't really want either one of them, one or the other would still be an improvement over the completely vacuous Bill Nelson. That said, despite his lack of actual substantive positions on practically anything, Nelson is an underestimated political talent (and, ooooh, an astronaut, which is a huge fucking deal in Florida even more so than probably anywhere else) and would have to be the favorite even if he wasn't an incumbent.
As I've said before, my personal favorite as GOP Senate nominee would be Charlie Crist. Since you know all about this subject, A, I suppose you don't need to be told that he's the state AG, but I mention it for the sake of anyone else reading this. But the polls have shown Crist could beat CFO Jim Gallagher in a gubernatorial primary, so he may have his eyes on that, even though I think he's better suited for (and happier in) a legislative environment: he worked for Paula Hawkins and is still well-known in DC. The rumor has been a threeway stitchup between him, Gallagher, and Lt. Governor Toni Jennings, with each one agreeing to take a different spot, but who knows: this is Florida we're talking about, after all.
Posted by: Dave J at August 22, 2005 01:19 AM