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Atlas Group Strives to Map Out Success for Democrats
Then Strayhorn announced she would end her legal effort, saying a protracted battle would be a distraction.
"I will campaign as who I am -- Grandma. You will see ads saying who I am -- Grandma. And you will hear people across this state calling me by my nickname -- Grandma," Strayhorn said. "It's not fair. It's not right, but as I've taught my granddaughters, life's not always fair."
Now for the Russian Entry in Florida . . .
  Texas gubernatorial candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn lost her bid to be placed on the ballot as "Grandma." (By Harry Cabluck -- Associated Press) |
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean and Rep. Katherine Harris (R-Fla.) are two of the more polarizing figures in American politics. Little wonder that their clash last week produced several days running of trash-talking taunts.
On Wednesday, Dean made a speech to Democratic business leaders in Florida in which he referred to Harris, who is running for Senate in Florida, and her role in the 2000 presidential election recount. As Florida secretary of state, she certified Bush's narrow margin of victory over Democratic nominee Al Gore.
Sen. Bill Nelson, the Democratic incumbent, is "going to beat the pants off Katherine Harris, who didn't understand that it is ethically improper to be the chairman of a campaign and count the votes at the same time. This is not Russia and she is not Stalin," said Dean, according to the Associated Press.
On Thursday, Harris demanded an apology from Dean for equating her with the former Soviet dictator. "Dean's extreme comments reflect a lack of understanding and basic decency," Stanley Tate, the Harris campaign's finance chairman, said in a statement.
Dean is not backing off. "Given that Katherine Harris was identified as 'Representative B' in the Duke Cunningham case, she should be apologizing to the people of Florida for being a crook," DNC spokeswoman Karen Finney said. "When she does, then I'll take their request seriously."
Harris received large campaign contributions from the same defense contractor who lavished more than $1 million in cash and other gifts on convicted former congressman Cunningham and is mentioned in court papers in the case. The contractor in court papers admitted to trying to curry favor with Harris.
In one sense, Dean's comments amount to kicking someone who's already down. Even Florida Gov. Jeb Bush has cast doubt on Harris's chances. In public polls, she is trailing by double-digit margins.
Cillizza is a staff writer for washingtonpost.com.
