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Harris invokes biblical parables on TV's 'Nightline'

By ADAM C. SMITH and STEVE BOUSQUET
Published March 22, 2006

TALLAHASSEE - Florida's most theatrical political figure, U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris, invoked biblical parables on national TV Tuesday night in support of her promise to spend $10-million of her own money to unseat Sen. Bill Nelson.

"My opponent clearly is a wealthy man as well, but I am willing to put everything on the line," she said, according to a transcript of a taped interview for ABC News' Nightline.

"I am willing to take this widow's mite, this pearl of great price, and put everything on the line," she said. "No matter how much you have, are you willing to take what you have and sell it all for a great price."

The "widow's mite" is a reference to a parable in which Jesus praises a poor widow for donating all she has - two Roman coins - while those with more wealth offered proportionally less.

Since announcing last week on the Fox TV show Hannity & Colmes that she would invest $10-million in her shaky campaign, Harris scrapped plans for a news conference in Florida and has limited her contact with print media in Florida.

She has embraced national TV exposure, however, even as she continued to face questions about how much money she has and whether she really is spending all her wealth.

In 2004, Harris reported on her federal financial disclosure report that she was worth between $10-million and $39-million. She also stands to inherit an undisclosed amount of money from her father, who died in January.

Asked on Nightline if her husband will still own real estate, and what she will have after kicking-in the $10-million, Harris said: "My husband has real estate, but I will not own anything."

[Last modified March 22, 2006, 01:58:24]