Why Dole Loves Duke

From today's Hotline spotlight:

We're not buying the GOP spin that the party's united behind Katherine Harris as she fights to keep herself out of the Duke Cunningham hot seat.

The irony here is that the Duke-stir could become the NRSC's number one asset as it struggles to unseat FL Sen. Nelson. The local press corps is fully engaged in this story, producing a full week of drip-drips on Harris and her connections to convicted contractor Mitchell Wade.

The congresswoman doesn't need this headache. She has already been struggling to convince GOP leaders that she's viable and now her ties to the Cunningham/Wade affair only make it harder.

The filing deadline is 70 days away. Mark Foley is sitting on a decent warchest. And while we don't think Harris would ever drop out, she may now be vulnerable in a primary. Of course, the bigger question is: can Nelson be beat? Wethinks many a FL GOPer has decided he can't, since so many have already taken a pass. But if they haven't run because of the Harris primary hurdle, then Nelson may need to start worrying again.

BTW: The Tampa Tribune reported today that Harris "hired" GOP superlawyer Ben Ginsberg "as a precaution." Not quite the case: Ginsberg has been the Harris operation's lawyer for several years.