HarrisWatch: Did “Pink Sugar” Play the Race Card?

From the NBC affiliate in Ft. Myers, Fla.:

[At a local Republican meeting, Will] McBride [Harris’ leading opponent in the GOP primary] became upset after a Harris supporter posed a particular question to him that he felt was over the line.

“She asked me why I changed my name to McBride to hide the fact that I was Hispanic,” said McBride. “I’ve been William Richard McBride my whole life. I’m proud of my Hispanic culture.”

But what may have concerned him more than the question itself was the person he believes was behind it – a Harris staff member named “Eddie.” . . .

“After the meeting, I went with a Miami Herald reporter and I asked her, ‘Who put you up to that question,’ and she said, ‘I’m sorry Mr. McBride. It wasn’t my idea. It was the campaign. It was the Harris campaign,'” said McBride. . . .

“Nothing can be farther from the truth,” said Harris. “If anyone has been found to do that, they would be fired immediately. But no one in my staff has done such behavior.”

But when she was asked specifically about Eddie, Harris would not give a direct answer.

Reporter: “Was Eddie fired?”
Harris: “We will not condone any behavior like that.”
Reporter: “But was he fired?”
Harris: “Thank you. Thank you.”