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Harris has challengers

Four relatively unknown candidates qualified Friday to challenge Rep. Katherine Harris in the U.S. Senate race.

Looks like a crowded field for the U.S. Senate.

The candidates qualified by the Friday deadline are: U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris of Longboat Key; LeRoy Collins Jr., son of former Florida Gov. LeRoy Collins; Peter Monroe, a Pinellas County developer who helped manage the government's savings and loan bailout; Windermere businessman William "Will" McBride; Tampa law professor Belinda Noah.

The GOP primary is Sept. 5. Bill Nelson is the only Democrat in the race.

Gov. Jeb Bush and other Republican leaders have been looking for someone to take on Harris because she trails incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson by about 30 percentage points in public opinion polls. Bush said earlier this week that he didn't believe Harris could beat Nelson.

Monroe, of Safety Harbor, managed the liquidation of more than $400 billion in real estate assets from failing savings and loans while heading the Federal Resolution Trust Corp. Oversight Board in the early 1990s. Collins' father, considered one of the most important Florida governors of the 20th century, served from 1954 to 1960.

State Rep. Dennis Ross of Lakeland had said he may enter the Republican primary, but he did not qualify by the noon deadline Friday. Harris and Nelson qualified earlier in the week.

Harris campaign spokesman Chris Ingram said: "While we would have preferred not to have had a contested primary, the campaign is confident that it will continue to maintain and expand the support of loyal Republicans and grassroots activists who share Katherine Harris' commitment to fight for Florida's families, small businesses, and senior citizens.

"With a tremendous base of support, we expect to be victorious in September and November."

-- Associated Press contributed to this report.