From Mark Steyn via Instapundit:
Hugh made another sharp point, noting that in Florida the Republicans in effect gave away a Senate seat. Given the way the GOP have held the Governor's mansion, and Katherine Harris' House seat, and Foley's seat, it seems clear that almost any credible Senate candidate could have swiped that seat out from under the Dems. There's no sixth-year wave, no blue realignment, no Bush repudiation going on here.
I couldn't disagree more. Bill Nelson has been in Florida politics since 1972 and is very well liked. He's very moderate politically, which suits a lot of people. Not everybody politician is extremely left or right, and not every voter votes a straight ticket.
Me and my husband both voted for Nelson and we're poles apart politically. Nelson's a known quantity, a good guy, and appeals to both parties. He also never embarrasses himself or his constituency out in public.
That he won wasn't just because it was Katherine Harris that he as up against. Who wants to throw out their most comfortable and reliable pair of shoes?
[The GOP didn't hold Foley's seat, by the way.]
I agree. I was more motivated to vote because it was Harris, she scares the ever living hell out of me, but I agree, Nelson is not a bad guy. He's a moderate and has done OK. My husband is a staunch conservative and he felt the same way.
Posted by: Bou at November 8, 2006 06:32 AMWhile I hate to disagree with Steyn, I have to say he, like most of the national pundits, doesn't know what he's talking about in this race.
Bill Nelson has been on the popular side of many local issues in Florida - in northeast Florida, where I live, he sponsored legislation to keep the USS Kennedy in service, and is now sponsoring legislation to upgrade NS Mayport so a nuclear carrier can be based there. While that's an important local issue, I think it's important nationally, too - what sense does it make to have the entire non-Pacific Navy based in one port - Norfolk?
I think, though, that some folks voted for him in part to be rid of Kathrine Harris. I still question her ethics - she headed the Bush 2000 campaign in Florida while serving as Secretary of State. It certainly gives the appearance of a conflict of interest, whether it's an actual one or not.
Posted by: Juan Paxety at November 8, 2006 07:57 AMWhen Instapundit put this in the "unforced errors" category, I had to laugh. While I agree that some votes were specifically votes against Harris, Nelson was a good candidate all the way around, a moderate who doesn't vote the party line, a politician with decades in the public eye and yet to have made a fool of himself. It would take a truly special GOP candidate to win against him.
Posted by: Donnah at November 8, 2006 01:50 PMI voted for Nelson as well. I will say this however, if Katherine Harris was the best candidate the Florida Republican Party could come up with then they are in worse shape than I thought. Also, is it just me or is Harris coming off more and more looney-like each passing day? She didn't help herself when she announced rather proudly that she's writing a book that will exposed all those who were against her. Sounds like acute paranoia on parade to me.
Posted by: Carl at November 8, 2006 11:18 PMOh what could have been if they could have asked (and convinced) Connie Mack to run one more time...
Posted by: Mark at November 9, 2006 12:04 AMAdd me and major dad to the 'voted for Nelson' column. Good, decent guy. I think the only major beef I've had with him has been his insistance on the offshore drilling moratorium hard line ~ and I'M the treehugger! Katharine Harris is quite probably the best thing the Republicans could have hoped for. A candidate with no viable political future against a hugely popular real guy and no one hurt who might one day actually BE a contender, like Alan Bense. No harm, no foul, best guy for the job still has it, no future GOP star tarnished.
Posted by: tree hugging sister at November 10, 2006 09:23 PMAnd just to stir the pot, we would have voted for Webb, too. Enormous respect and fond memories of him as NavSec, not to mention that kick ass Scotch-Irish book.
Posted by: tree hugging sister at November 10, 2006 09:25 PMA whole lot of people with an "R" on their card vote for Nelson whenever he runs for office. "Any credible Senate candidate could have swiped that seat out from under the Dems," my butt.
Sister- Yep, I'd have voted for Webb too.
Posted by: Donnah at November 11, 2006 11:24 AM