$2,800 for dinner?

That's supposedly how much the dinner tab was for a Defense contractor who took Florida GOP Senate hopeful Congresswoman Katherine Harris to dinner. The contractor in question is seeking Harris' help in landing $10 million in federal money.

This is only the latest in bad news for Harris. She claims not to know what the bill was for dinner. I can buy that, but this is dynamite for the Nelson campaign. Who the #%^@! pays $2,800 for dinner? I mean Lobster tail and fillet mingeon which I consider a great meal I could get for about $50 at a West Palm Beach steakhouse.

Then there is the shady ethics involved. The contractor has Mitcheel Wade is trying to get Harris help via this dinner. Michael Wade has pleaded guilty to giving illegal campaign contributions to Harris in the past. This whole thing stinks, and Harris isn't denying it happened.

I've defended Harris decision to stay in the race but also said she was likely to lose. Her Senate bid is becoming a farce, it appears Harris is just too dumb or blind or both to see it. At this point I'll just take a pass on the race in the fall if Harris is on the ballot.

Open Post- Bright & Early, Mudville Gazette, Outside the Beltway,

A defense contractor seeking help from Rep. Katherine Harris for $10 million in federal money last year took her to one of Washington's most exclusive restaurants, where he paid for a meal that may have cost as much as $2,800 and offered to sponsor a campaign fundraiser for her.

Mitchell Wade, who pleaded guilty this year to bribing a California congressman, spent $2,800 on wine and food, said Ed Rollins, former chief political strategist for Harris in her campaign for the U.S. Senate.

In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel this week, Harris R-Longboat Key, said it was "news to me" that the total bill had been that expensive.

Rollins said he and Harris discussed the meal and its cost early this year after Wade, the central figure in a congressional bribery scandal, admitted giving kickbacks to U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham of California.

Wade also pleaded guilty to giving Harris $32,000 in illegal campaign contributions in 2004 -- donations she has since given to charity.

House rules forbid members from accepting gifts worth $50 or more and cautions them from accepting "favors or benefits in circumstances that might create the appearance of influencing the performance of official duties," according to the House's Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

The rules also state that members "must never accept a gift that is linked to any official action that the individual has taken, or is being asked to take. . . ."

In her interview Wednesday, Harris acknowledged for the first time that Wade had paid for the dinner at Citronelle, reversing a statement from her congressional spokeswoman earlier this year.

But in the interview, Harris also said her campaign had, at some point, "reimbursed" the restaurant.

When asked how she could have reimbursed a business that was owed no money -- Wade paid the bill that evening -- she abruptly ended the interview and walked off.

Her spokesman called back an hour later and asked a reporter not to publish anything Harris had said Wednesday night about the dinner.

On Thursday, Harris' campaign released a two-paragraph statement that differed from her explanation a day earlier. It stated that Harris thought her "campaign would be reimbursing" her share of the meal but later found out that hadn't happened.

To resolve any questions, the statement said, "I have donated to a local Florida charity $100 which will more than adequately compensate for the cost of my beverage and appetizer."

Harris spokesman Chris Ingram said the donation was made Thursday to Global Dominion Impact Ministries. He would not answer any other questions about the dinner -- including the cost of the meal.

The Department of Justice would not discuss the details of that night. Wade's attorney could not be reached Thursday and had refused comment earlier.