Senate candidate Katherine Harris (Fla) is now accused of running up a $2,800 bar tab with Mitchell Wade, the lobbyist who bribed U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham of California and pleaded guilty to giving Harris $32,000 in illegal campaign contributions.
Ed Rollins, who resigned as Harris' chief Senate campaign political strategist last month, gave up the goodies to Orlando Sentinel reporter Jim Stratton in a page 1 story today.
A defense contractor seeking help from Rep. Katherine Harris for $10 million in federal money last year took her to one of Washington's most exclusive restaurants, where he paid for a meal that may have cost as much as $2,800 and offered to sponsor a campaign fundraiser for her.
Day before yesterday, the Sentinel interviewed Harris, who served as both Bush's Bush's Florida campaign co-chair and Florida Secretary of State when she certified the 2000 presidential ballot results. She's the kind of person who makes you want to believe in God just so there would be a hell she could go to.
Harris acknowledged for the first time that Wade had paid for the dinner at Citronelle, reversing a statement from her congressional spokeswoman earlier this year.
But in the interview, Harris also said her campaign had, at some point, "reimbursed" the restaurant.
When asked how she could have reimbursed a business that was owed no money -- Wade paid the bill that evening -- she abruptly ended the interview and walked off.
Her spokesman called back an hour later and asked a reporter not to publish anything Harris had said Wednesday night about the dinner.
Stratton got in touch with Rollins. Rollins, apparently, hopes to sink Harris' campaign before the May 12 filing deadline.
By the end of dinner, Wade and Harris had run up a bill of $2,800, Rollins said Thursday. He said he learned of the amount -- and discussed it with Harris -- after Wade, who is cooperating with the Justice Department, pleaded guilty in February.
It is not clear what the cost of each meal was, but the fixed-price menu at Citronelle ranges from $85 to $150 per person. The restaurant carries wines that range in price from $30 to $5,500 per bottle. Wade's favorite wine, according to a restaurant employee who knows him, was a $1,000 a bottle French Bordeaux.
Harris claims she donated $100 to Global Dominion Impact Ministries yesterday -- "a local Florida charity," according to Harris -- to make up for her offense. The $100, she told Stratton "will more than adequately compensate for the cost of my beverage and appetizer."
Obviously, Harris is the best candidate to carry the Republican banner against Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson, who polled 56 to 27 over her bosomness in the most recent Quinnipiac.
Just as obviously, the delusions under which she betrayed democracy and justice six years ago still guide her today. A sane person would withdraw from the race. Thankfully, Katherine Harris isn't.
I'm forming Liberal Uber-Scum for Harris -- LUSH for short -- to support her candidacy through the primary. Go Katherine.