Man Aims Car At Katherine Harris

A Sarasota man was arrested on an aggravated assault charge early Wednesday after he was accused of trying to run down U.S. Rep. Katherine Harris and a group of supporters with his car.

Witnesses said a silver Cadillac sped through a Sarasota intersection and swerved onto the sidewalk. The car headed straight toward Harris before swerving at the last minute and driving off, according to police.

Harris told police she feared for her life and couldn't move as the vehicle sped toward her, police records show.

Witnesses gave the car's license plate number to police, and they tracked it to Barry M. Seltzer, 46. He came to the police station early Wednesday and complained to officers that Harris' supporters had impeded traffic.

"I intimidated them with my car," Seltzer told police. "I was exercising my political expression."

He was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and booked into the Sarasota County jail. Seltzer was being held without bond and was scheduled for his first court appearance Thursday.

A call to Seltzer's home Wednesday was unanswered.

A call for comment to Harris' campaign secretary was not immediately returned.

Harris, a Sarasota Republican, is seeking a second congressional term after serving as Florida's secretary of state during the protracted 2000 presidential recount.

She has been a rising star in the GOP and the bane of Democrats since overseeing the recount that gave Florida and the presidency to George W. Bush by 537 votes.

She used momentum from the recount to win the congressional seat in 2002 and is seeking re-election against Sarasota lawyer Jan Schneider, who lost to Harris two years ago.