House Speaker Bense may give new thought to U.S. Senate bid(K. Harris)

[Lochloosa]

http://www.gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060424/APP/604241000

House Speaker Bense may give new thought to U.S. Senate bid

House Speaker Allan Bense may reconsider challenging U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris in the Republican U.S. Senate primary - a race he ruled out last August.

But it's a subject he doesn't want to talk about until after the 60-day legislative session ends May 5, a week before the deadline to turn in paperwork and fees to run for the position.

"She's currently the candidate and I'm a nobody. Beyond these four blocks I'm a nobody and I understand that," Bense said at the state Capitol. "The only thing that probably intrigues me more about it is the challenge, because all my life I've loved a good challenge, but I'm really just focused on what I'm doing right now."

Bense has been encouraged to get in the race by GOP leaders in Washington and Tallahassee. Harris' campaign has failed to gain ground on incumbent Democrat Bill Nelson, who leads substantially in the polls and has millions of dollars more in his campaign account. She has also faced negative publicity over $32,000 in illegal campaign contributions she received from a defense contractor who pleaded guilty to bribing another congressman.