The American Spectator

The Republicans are pressing for a strong candidate because they expect that Bob Graham will not seek re-election, instead focusing his money and time on a presidential bid. Harris, who ran for the House after being recruited by the White House, would be an attractive candidate and, with statewide office experience, would have the name recognition and money connections to make a race of things.

“She was tabbed a star the first day she arrived in Washington in January, and she hasn’t done anything to change anyone’s mind,” says the RNC staffer. House leadership is said to be impressed with Harris’s abilities and plans to put her out to represent the party during the economic stimulus package fight to see how she handles the press attention.

Harris has not indicated she would run for the Senate, although if the White House asked, she probably wouldn’t turn the offer down.

p> BURR CAROLINA br> North Carolina Rep. Richard Burr pulled in more than $700,000 at a fundraiser last week attended by Karl Rove . According to Burr insiders, he expects to have more than $10 million in the bank for the general election in 2004, whether it is against sitting Sen. John Edwards or another Democratic challenger. /p>

Burr has surprised Democrats down south with his fundraising momentum, and even Edwards appears to have noticed. He remains unsure about whether he should empty his Senate campaign account, which has more than $2 million in it. “He still may run for his seat. He hasn’t said he won’t,” says an Edwards Senate staffer. “We’re proceeding as though he will be elected to a second term.”

Burr’s strength may weaken Edward’s resolve to take his presidential bid beyond the initial primaries, in part because while he’s viewed as a strong presidential candidate, he isn’t expected to win the nomination. “If nothing else, Burr is going to make it tough for Edwards to focus on just the presidential race,” says an RNC staffer who is doing some work with Burr. “We think we can win this race, whether it’s Edwards or someone else.”