I have not posted anything on the speakerâs race since I broke the news on Saturday that McCall had filed to enter the race because I didnât know what was going on, and I didnât think anyone else did either. Iâm not going to buy into posturing. That said, I got a call from a presumed McCall supporter today, which I will relate. The McCall camp is brimming with optimism. Here is what they are claiming:
56 Democrats, ârock solidâ (to quote Bill Miller about Craddickâs prospects in a Statesman story on Christmas day).
17 Republicans, including four chairs, ready to âgo to the Alamoâ
Robert Talton has publicly pledged to support McCall
6 others on the verge of pledging
Which makes a total of 73. âOn the verge ofâ doesnât count.
Senfronia Thompson will release her pledges.
âWeâre a lot closer to 73 than Craddick is,â says the member.
Just a word of caution: A speakerâs race is all about perceptionsâthe perceptions of members of who is ahead and how close they are to the magic number, which, donât forget, is 75, not 76. This version has McCall two votes short. Of course, it is the oldest game in the book to get the message out that a candidate is just one or two votes short and try to start a panic among members wanting to get on board the Victory Special.
More, from a different caller:
Craddick is said to be willing to get rid of his hatchet-woman, Nancy Fisher, an aider and abetter of the armtwisting style that has kept Craddick in power.
One other point: my well placed noncombatant told me yesterday that McCall had only eight Republicans. I have told you everything I have heard.
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