White update: Will hold press conference to say he is considering a race for governor
The word is that a race for governor is “in play,” which I take to mean that White is keeping his options open, which is not really news.
The bad blood between Rick and Kay is only going to get worse. Had Hutchison resigned in the fall, which was her stated intention, White would be in the middle of a special election for the Senate now. Instead, Perry faces a bloody gubernatorial primary against Hutchison, followed by a general election race against White. Perry has got to be furious. By delaying her departure from the Senate, Hutchison has made it possible for White to postpone his decision and hold onto both options, putting Perry at risk.
If White is still weighing the Senate race, along with a race for governor, he must consider in which race the national political situation is likely to play a greater factor. The advantage for a well funded Democrat, which White would be, is that the Senate race is short, a wide-open special election followed by a runoff between the top two vote-getters, quite possibly against a Republican, appointed by Perry, who doesn’t have a lot of name identification or proven voter appeal. But the bad news outweighs the good news. Democrats haven’t had much to be motivated about during the first year of Obama’s presidency, unlike Texas Republicans, who are seething with hostility toward him.
I think White would be in a much stronger position in a governor’s race. The obvious reason is that it’s a general election. Democrats will have somebody they can rally behind for the first time since Ann Richards. All the national issues that have inflamed Republicans — debt, deficits, government-run health care, that pie-in-the-sky cap and trade bill — don’t play a big rule in a governor’s race. I’m not selling Perry short. He is a formidable opponent with great candidate’s skills and a record that Republicans love. You can be sure that he will try to hang Obama around White’s neck. But Perry has a ten-year record that he will have to defend, and he will have been through a rough primary. If White can keep the race focused on state issues, he can win. The Republican base alone can’t win a statewide election.
Tagged: bill white, governor, kay bailey hutchison, rick perry.
cool says:
whatever keeps the trial lawyers’ time occupied. at least they’ll be wasting their money here instead of state house races…
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Lobby Watcher says:
Paul, Matt Angle and other trial back democrats hit the panic button after seeing KBH’s ad. It’s flat, passionless and she is dead. They no believe that she can’t win, and will never resign if she loses. If fact this weekend they discussed that Perry and KBH were in league to keep out big names out of governors race. Ha!
This is all bad since the cycle (2010) will not treat big spenders kindly and with Houston Bankrupt according to published reports last month why would White allow his self to be talked into this briar patch. Perry is a lucky son of a gun!
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Theseus Madden says:
White and KBH have similar bases, so if she were to have won against Perry (not bloody likely), White would have had an easier time against KBH than against Perry.
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Texas Publius says:
Kay kills Bill White.
Perry v. Bill White is a toss up. It’s basically an arrogant, selfish, right wing, not so smart, Republican, vindictive, cheerleader, farmer versus a humble, servant hearted, moderate, ubersmart, Democrat, clever, businessman/lawyer, executive. If another conservative runs as an Independent, Bill White definitely wins. If Bill White takes a conservative issue or two off the table (tort reform, abortion, and/or guns) like Romney did in Massachusetts, Perry is toast.
If Bill White loses, he lands a spot in the Administration and becomes a VP candidate.
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Anonymous says:
Who is the world would think a pro-choice, anti-gun, plaintiff trial lawyer can take any of those issues off the table???
Plus, his support for cap and trade and Obamacare are most definitely state issues as both, particularly White’s pet issue of cap and trade, promise to hit the Texas economy hard.
The fact is 2010 is shaping up to be a gang-buster Republican year, much like 1994, when election results were very kind to Republican governors and gubernatorial candidates.
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Nate Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:10 pm
Seriously? There is a big anti-incumbency mood in the country that has been fueling the politics for the last two years. Bill White has a better chance than most to take the governor’s race.
The second the Democratic congress starts showing some results, it’ll energize the base and promote turnout which was sorely lacking in the special elections of ‘09.
You’re going to see more primary challenges and those with a popular message are going to knock off incumbents.
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Anonymous Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:36 pm
Saying Bill White has a better chance than Hank Gilbert and Farouk Shami is not saying much, Nate.
Texas is still a conservative state, and Bill White is no conservative.
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Anonymous Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 3:43 pm
A gang-buster Republican year? Only if you’re successful with your voter suppression efforts…and I’m thinking Bill White will take care of that.
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Anonymous says:
So basically White’s position is that running for Governor is essentially a back-up plan??? What is he, a senior in high school trying to decide on a college? “I really want to go to Harvard, but if I get wait-listed, I’ll settle for Yale.” That’s no way to kick off a campaign for Governor. And what about this foolishness that the Chronicle is reporting. That even if he’s the Democrat nominee for Governor, he’ll run in a special election for Senate, perhaps throwing the Democrat nomination for Governor to the SDEC? It sounds like he has as much passion for actually running for Governor as KBH does. The only difference is KBH actually wants to be Governor… it’s clear White doesn’t.
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Jamie says:
KBH is such a has-been already. Or maybe a never-was. I feel sorry for her, but I am ready for her to step aside for the good of the party.
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Bill says:
Actually, Bill went to Harvard, he wasn’t wait-listed.
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Jamie says:
I think the GOP establishment will be mad at KBH, too, not just Rick Perry. Had she resigned in the summer or the fall as she said she would, we’d currently have a full-time Senator, we’d get to save our cash for our Senate nominee to take down White and Sharp, and we would not be putting both the Senate seat and the Governor’s seat in jeopardy.
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John Johnson says:
Great piece on White in Dec. TM. He’s got credentials and track record like no one else running on the Dem side, and he has the demeanor and personality that I think most Texans will find attractive …once they get to know him and his accomplishments …and his ability to work for the good of every Texan… not just those with a big checkbook. This former Repub will be giving him money, a large yard sign, and my vote. Sic ‘um.
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Anonymous says:
All of this slobbering over White reminds me of the slobbering over KBH that happened a year ago. Just like how voters are turning their backs on KBH as they get to know her record, the same will happen with White.
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John Johnson Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:43 pm
Standying by, waiting for you to describe his “record” for me. Think it will be a turn-off?Don’t think so. What I’ve read, I’ve liked. You might do a little more research yourself on the subject.
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Anonymous Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 4:46 pm
How about this for starters… leaving the City of Houston on the brink of bankruptcy???
http://www.scribd.com/doc/21619848/Lemer-Farb-Roberts-assessment-of-City-of-Houston-Finances-22-October-2009
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Anonymous Reply:
November 23rd, 2009 at 5:14 pm
It is unfortunate that the press has been keeping this a secret. Texas does not need this type of leadership.
Ben Quick says:
Perry has got to be furious. By delaying her departure from the Senate, Hutchison has made it possible for White to postpone his decision and hold onto both options, putting Perry at risk.
//Furious? – What about everyone led to believe if KHB pulled out of the 06 trickey rickey would not run?
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Briscoe Democrat says:
Burka,
Our Campaigns.com has Perry as the favorite to LIKELY win the GOP primary by 10 points over KBH, 55-45 on March 2nd, I’ve been saying that Slick Rick was back for a 3rd full term in the Texas Governor’s Mansion since last year.
On Houston Mayor Bill White (D) “possibly” seeking the governorship, I’ll be SHOCKED if he did because I thought former State Comptroller John Sharp (D) wanted to seek bitter revenge on Rick after their friendship was ruined in the 1998 Lieutenant Governor’s race.
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Rick Perry says:
I have all of you pundits and politicos right where I want you. Ready to blame me, my hair, my hair spray and my ego. And, that is true. If I had said I was not seeking re-election, Kay woudl have resigned, I would have appointed Dewhurst, and Bill White and John Sharp would have been tearing each other to pieces in a losing race. But, selfishly, I have decided to do what I do best. Tear Texas and bankrupt it. I borrowed off the federal stimulus to balance a budget and if I lose to Kay I will lose to Bill. If Kay wins, I will leave her with a MESS. Yes, I am not only SMART and SELFISH, I AM GREAT!!!!
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Briscoe Democrat says:
Perry is likely staying put until 2014.
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