Who could Florida GOP find to challenge Harris in Senate primary?

[DeepModem Mom]

WP political blog, "The Fix," by Chris Cillizza:
Fla. Senate: Is There a GOP Alternative to Harris?

As Rep. Katherine Harris's (R) Senate campaign continues to disintegrate, Republicans are divided over whether they need to find someone to challenge her in the Sept. 5 primary....

***

So, if not Harris, who?

* Rep. Mark Foley: Foley has made no secret that he is interested in a Senate bid but continues to wait in hopes that the movers and shakers in both Florida and Washington give him some sort of signal that they would be with him if he decided to run. No such indication from on high has come, according to a sources close to Foley. Foley has been down this road before. He was considered the leading contender for the open seat of retiring Democratic Sen. Bob Graham (D) in 2004 but bowed out in September 2003 citing his father's ill health. During that abbreviated campaign, Foley had been forced to hold a conference call with reporters denying an alternative newspaper report about his sexual orientation.

* Florida State House Speaker Allan Bense: Bense was heavily courted to challenge Harris by state and national Republican leaders last fall but ultimately decided against the contest in September. Bense remains an appealing candidate to many Republicans because he has some amount of personal wealth, which, at this late date, is considered an absolute necessity if a candidate wants to beat Harris. And he comes from the state's Panhandle -- an area where Nelson has traditionally been able to blunt what should be a major GOP advantage. Bense's office did not return a call seeking comment.

* Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings: Christa Campbell, a spokeswoman for Gov. Jeb Bush, said Monday that Jennings is "not considering a run." Long expected to run for governor, Jennings instead looks likely to simply finish out her LG term.

* Retired Army General Tommy Franks: Franks, along with outgoing Gov. Jeb Bush, is seen as a dream candidate for Republicans but does not appear interested in running. Franks, who led the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, lives part-time in Tampa.

http://blog.washingtonpost.com/thefix/

[rpannier]

1. Jebbie

We could have to scrubs in DC. One in the WH and one in the Senate.
It'd kinda be like Caligula putting his horse in the Roman Senate over 2000 years ago.

[racaulk]

2. No one, hopefully!

If Harris wins the Repub primary, that would be a sure bet that Nelson would be reelected. There's no way she could go all the way in the general election.

[Hippo_Tron]

6. Yea, she's down by 30

I don't think that even she, could steal that kind of election.

[saltpoint]

3. I don't think Connie Mack is interested but if he were,

Ms. Harris would be toast in any GOP primary race.

So would anybody else in the state, I believe, primary or general.

[saltpoint]

4. Slobberin' Jeb is the big name but I don't think he wants to work

in the Senate.

He's the remote executive type, probably preferring the one-man show at the governor's chair over teamwork in the Senate, plus he can't write a syllable of legislation to begin with.

The GOP gubernatorial primary to replace Jeb is a hot contest, isn't it, between Gallagher and Crist, with Crist expected to have the advantage. Maybe the GOP could persuade one of those two galoots to challenge Katherine for the Senate primary. I realize they'd both rather be governor, but only one can have the nomination.

It's a long shot, but defeated GOP gubernatorial candidate Bob Martinez could be dragged out of the attic to challenge Harris. I don't know if he's Senate material either, but at least he's a halfway qualified candidate, for a Republican, I mean.

Last, St. Petersburg mayor Rick Baker is shrewd and capable, and very well connected to Jeb Bush, and could slice up Harris' numbers along the I-4 corridor. Neither he nor Harris will carry Broward in a general election, and neither have much of a profile there now among Republicans.

[saltpoint]

5. One more post here. I think this is a useful question and that

it's caught my attention.

I thought it would prompt more responses. We need Florida. We need to get it much bluer.

Nelson's not the bluest Dem there is, but he would most definitely be better than Katherine Harris.

Any folks who have more info on who the GOP is touting behind the scenes, I'd love to hear it.