The American Spectator

Washington Prowler

p> HOUSE WOMEN EYEING SENATE br> Republican Rep. Katherine Harris isn't the only newbie House member looking to move up to the Senate quickly. Fellow freshman Rep. Denise Majette (D-Ga.), who knocked off incumbent and conspiracy theorist Cynthia McKinney in the Democratic primary in 2002, is looking at George's open Senate seat up for grabs in 2004. /p>

Harris has been a little less coy about her thinking on the Florida Senate seat soon to be contested with the retirement of Sen. Bob Graham. As recently as Wednesday, she was telling donors and Florida supporters that her decision to enter the race had little to do with the thinking of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Mel Martinez, who is being pressured to run by the National Republican Senatorial Committee and Karl Rove.

"She think she could beat him in a head to head," says an RNC fundraiser. "I'm not sure that's doable, and saying that, I'm being kind."

Harris, while being popular on the cocktail circuit in Washington, has done little to distinguish herself in the House. She was given a leadership position within the Republican caucus, angering some sophomore members who were passed over for regional "whip" positions. Harris has helped to fundraise for other candidates, and would be able to raise plenty for a statewide campaign. It's unclear if the White House would go out of its way to push her over other Republican contenders. Almost certainly it would press her to step aside should Martinez enter the race.

Majette is another story. Georgia Democrats have failed to find a high profile candidate to run for the seat now held by Sen. Zell Miller. Majette actually won her primary race against a sitting House member by garnering a large Republican vote that was mobilized against McKinney. She then easily won the general against a weak Republican candidate.

"Majette is probably the closest thing to a star we've been able to find," says a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee staffer. "It's been tough. The state party down there is moribund."

topics:
NATO, Medicare