What Does CQ Politics Know That We Don’t?
In its ratings of 2009 and 2010 statehouse races, the website for wonky Washington insiders pronounces the upcoming Texas gubernatorial contest “leans Republican,” as opposed to “favored Republican” or “safe Republican.” The accompanying write-up gives a not-terribly-compelling reason for Democratic optimism: the coming bloody primary.
A Republican battle of the titans in the 2010 primary for governor — between Republican incumbent Rick Perry and veteran U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison –- has taken on an air of inevitability. The clash would seem a luxury that the nationally beleaguered Republicans could afford only in a state such as Texas, where the GOP has had a strong partisan grip since the rise of George W. Bush in the early 1990s.
Perry, a conservative, moved up from lieutenant governor in late 2000 to succeed Bush after the latter’s election as president. Perry won his first full term rather routinely in 2002, but in 2006 had to battle through a four-candidate general election to win his current term.
Hutchison, though her record during her 16 years in the Senate is mainly conservative, has been more moderate than Perry on some matters, especially social issues such as abortion rights. Though she is still in a exploratory campaign phase, she transferred $8 million in late December to her governor’s race campaign account. She has not refuted the possibility that she might resign from the Senate later this year to focus on the governor’s race.
Democrats hope that a brutal primary battle between Perry and Hutchison might create an opportunity for them. One Democrat eyeing the race is Tom Schieffer, a former state representative and business partner of George W. Bush whose older brother is television journalist Bob Schieffer.
Robert Alford says:
How many Democrats will cross party lines and vote for Kay in the primaries just to give Rick the boot? Can a registered Democrat even do this in Texas?
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Anonymous Reply:
April 22nd, 2009 at 4:03 pm
not nearly enough to matter, considering there will be a democrat primary for governor, not to mention democrat primaries for races all the way down the ballot to local races.
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Buck says:
Robert asked how many Democrats will vote for Kay Bailey.
Every single one I know.
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Brown Bess says:
It has been my pleasure to participate in the Republican Primary in order to vote against Rick Perry twice.
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Tony Sanchez Reply:
April 22nd, 2009 at 4:07 pm
You know what I call a candidate who relies on changing voter turnout to win an election? A loser.
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Texas Democrat says:
I just have a gut feeling that Perry will get re-elected, somehow he has the backing of the hard core right-wing Evangelical Christians kinda like Adam Lambert dominating American Idol this year.
Democrats better focus on OTHER STATES to win governorships in 2010:
1. California-with State AG Jerry Brown (D)
2. Hawaii-with US Rep. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI), easy win for him
3. Nevada-either State AG Catherine Cortez-Masto (D) or Secretary of State Ross Miller (D)
4. Minnesota-with former US Senator Mark Dayton (D-Minnesota), Pawlenty is very unpopular and folks are getting sick of the Senate contest recount mess
5. Alabama-with US Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL)
6. Georgia-with State AG Thurbert Baker (D), whose won 3 statewide elections, unless former Gov. Roy Barnes (D) runs again.
7. Arizona-either Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon (D) or State AG Terry Goddard (D).
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Anonymous says:
A warning to readers:
Texas Democrat appears to be the old ‘Moderate Texas Democrat’ who gets on this blog and writes about stupid things about out of state races no one knows about or cares about. Clearly not playing with a full deck.
Someone please lockup the computer lab in Shoal Creek Hopsital and send ‘Texas Democrat’ back to the jewelry making class.
Take your meds ‘Texas Democrat’ and pay attention to your Therapist.
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Texas Democrat Reply:
April 22nd, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Anon, I’m NEW on here and you’re getting all uppity.
Folks, ban Anonymous from this site and never hear from him ever again.
I voted for Kerry in 2004 and Obama in 2008, and also supported Sanchez for the governor’s race in 2002, etc.,
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Texun says:
Oh! Oh! Anon has missed another of his anger management sessions. No wonder his dog keeps running away.
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Anonymous says:
Curious there’s really only been one commenter on here worrying about who gets elected Governor of Hawaii. Just one.
Yup, Texas Democrat, Moderate Texas Democrat, Frank Perez – all one in the same…
The violent unstable reaction just confirms it.
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joey says:
Robert Alford, since no one has directly answered your question, in Texas we “register” for a party when we go to vote in the primary, so count me in as a Dem vote for Kay. She’s not perfect, but she’s better than Rick.
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Texun Reply:
April 24th, 2009 at 9:14 am
Anon’s runaway dog is better than Rick.
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