Harris to Make Announcement Today?

The Washington rumor mill is buzzing with the possibility that Congresswoman Katherine Harris will officially drop out of the race for U.S. Senate. While it is easy to dismiss the Washington press corps as out of touch with the states, there is no question that this rumor has buzzing around for some time. It seemed to fade away as the Republican establishment reluctantly united behind her, but then picked up momentum again as the scandals that took down convicted former Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham bled over onto Congresswoman Harris. The Hotline is expecting her campaign to make an announcement some time today - and the suspicion is that the announcement will be that she will either be retiring from politics to "spend more time with her family" or that she will run for re-election to Congress (where she can look forward to facing several angry Republican primary opponents, a rejuvenated local Democratic organization and the lingering aura of shame and failure that results from abandoning a major campaign with her tail between her legs [see Jeanine Pirro]).

The Hotline posted the story at approximately 1:00 pm EST on March 8, 2006.