State: Bush's strategists to lead Senate bid

TALLAHASSEE - Two staffers from Gov. Jeb Bush's 2002 re-election team, campaign manager Karen Unger and communications director Todd Harris, have joined House Speaker Johnnie Byrd's campaign for the U.S. Senate.

The Plant City lawyer announced Monday that Unger and Harris will be senior advisers to his campaign. They will assemble the rest of the campaign team and work on strategy.

"Karen and Todd were a critical part of the team that re-elected Jeb Bush and I am confident that with their help, this campaign will be just as successful," Byrd said in a statement.

Byrd is just starting to compete in an increasingly crowded Republican field for the seat held by Democrat Bob Graham, who is running for president and may not seek another term.

The moves by Unger and Harris suggest that Byrd's candidacy has Bush's blessing. It's not likely that either strategist would join a campaign without the governor's approval.

The 52-year-old House speaker has been a strong supporter of Bush's agenda and will make an appeal to party activists as a champion of smaller government and lower taxes. Three weeks ago in Tampa, Byrd shared a limousine ride with President Bush, as the president traveled from MacDill Air Force Base to a hotel for a fundraiser.

Byrd has scheduled a day of appearances Thursday in Palm Beach County, home base of one of his rivals, U.S. Rep. Mark Foley of West Palm Beach.

Foley said last month that he had landed two well-known political operatives: David Johnson, former executive director of the state GOP, and Sarah Owen, who was the assistant director of party development in the 2002 election cycle.

Besides Foley, other Republicans who have announced for the seat are U.S. Rep. Dave Weldon of Palm Bay, perennial candidate Andy Martin of Palm Beach, Gwyndolyn McClellan of Sarasota and former U.S. Rep. Bill McCollum of Longwood, who lost a 2000 race for U.S. Senate to Democrat Bill Nelson.

Two other conservatives, state Sen. Dan Webster of Winter Garden, and Ken Connor, an attorney and former director of the Family Research Council, a prominent think tank, are considering joining the race.

The Democratic field is in limbo because Graham has not completely foreclosed a bid for re-election if his campaign for president falters. Democratic hopefuls include Miami-Dade Mayor Alex Penelas, U.S. Reps. Allen Boyd of Monticello, Peter Deutsch of Pembroke Pines and Alcee Hastings of Miramar, and former state education commissioner and University of South Florida president Betty Castor.

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Lucy Morgan

From the Times state desk