May 9th, 2006 4:17 PM
By Jim Rutenberg / New York Times
SUN CITY CENTER, Fla., May 9 — President Bush and his brother continued their awkward dance today with Representative Katherine Harris of Florida, whose run for the Republican Senate nomination this year they have met with chilliness.
Ms. Harris was on hand this morning to meet President Bush as he stopped in Tampa en route to a Medicare event in this nearby, senior-rich town — just one day after Governor Jeb Bush said publicly that he did not believe Ms. Harris could win against the Democratic incumbent Senator here, Bill Nelson.
Jeb Bush was there, too, as Ms. Harris waited for the president to walk off Air Force One in Tampa, and the two seemed friendly as they chatted in the receiving line on the tarmac, according to a pool report.
After saying hello to his brother and straightening his tie, the president shook hands with Ms. Harris and spoke with her for roughly 30 seconds, with Ms. Harris talking far more than the president, who did not kiss her or put his arm around her — or do anything more than pat her on the back.
An aide to the president said later that they were only speaking about "the weather," and a spokesman for Ms. Harris refused to divulge the details of the conversation.
The president and his brother have been pushing behind the scenes — but loudly enough for it be common knowledge — for the Republican Speaker of the House of Representatives here, Allan Bense, to make a run for the Senate nomination Ms. Harris is seeking. He has until Friday to make up his mind. Mr. Bense had demurred last year when asked to run, but he is now facing new pressure and promises of campaign money from top Republican donors here.
On Monday Jeb Bush, raised new doubts about Ms. Harris's ability to unseat Mr. Nelson, saying, "I just don't think she can win."
"It's just that's she's not gained any traction, and it seems that, unfortunately through no fault of her own perhaps, the press coverage is all about the problems in her campaign."
Some Republicans have expressed worries that Ms. Harris, who became nationally known while overseeing the presidential recount of 2000 as secretary of state in Florida, remains a polarizing figure and could galvanize Democrats to vote against her.
President Bush and Governor Bush had indicated they were warming to Ms. Harris's candidacy as no alternatives emerged. But that changed in February after the military contractor who pleaded guilty to bribing former Representative Randy Cunningham of California, Michael Wade, said he had made illegal campaign donations to Ms. Harris's 2004 re-election campaign.
Ms. Harris has said she had no idea the contributions were illegal, and she has not been accused of wrongdoing. But it has added to a host of woes that have plagued her campaign, including staff turnover and financial problems.
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