Posted on 08/30/2004 9:19:30 AM PDT by hispanarepublicana
NEW YORK — When the curtain rises on the Republican National Convention, Rep. Henry Bonilla of San Antonio will be pushed to center stage in the GOP's effort to showcase its diversity.
The spotlight also may help the political ambitions of a lawmaker who has made no secret of his interest in running for the U.S. Senate if Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison decides to run for governor in 2006.
Bonilla and Hutchison are among seven politicians who will serve as co-chairmen of the four-day Republican convention that begins today.
The only Mexican American in the Republican ranks in Congress, Bonilla, 50, said it is a humbling honor for someone who grew up in the working-class neighborhoods south of the Alamo.
"I can't believe I have these types of responsibilities, being a guy from the South Side of San Antonio," said Bonilla, who also was a co-chairman of the 2000 convention in Philadelphia.
"Having taken the stage before, that is a big help," Bonilla said.
With Republicans holding all statewide elected posts in Texas, speculation is growing that Gov. Rick Perry will face primary opposition for another term in 2006.
Possible challengers include Hutchison, a third-term senator with two toddlers she wants to raise in Texas.
Bonilla considered running in 2002, when Sen. Phil Gramm decided not to seek re-election, but he reconsidered after polls showed he was little-known outside his South Texas congressional district.
A Hutchison campaign for governor would open the door again for Bonilla, who has raised $1.7 million and has $1 million cash on hand for his 2004 re-election bid.
Bonilla, seeking a seventh term in the House, faces Democrat Joe Sullivan, who has raised $6,000 and had $500 cash on hand after the June 30 financial reporting period closed, Federal Election Commission records show.
National television exposure certainly would raise Bonilla's profile, but it won't necessarily be a big boost for a Senate campaign, said David Crockett, a Trinity University political science professor in San Antonio.
"If you can get some kind of national exposure, that can be very important," Crockett said. "But he would be fighting an uphill battle because he's running from a House district in Texas."
A statewide officeholder would have the advantage through organization and name recognition, Crockett said.
Other potential GOP candidates for Senate often mentioned include Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst and Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis.
Former state Comptroller John Sharp, former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk and current Dallas Mayor Laura Miller are consider potential candidates for the Democratic nomination.
Bonilla dismisses talk about a Senate race as speculative. He said his job at the convention is to speak to the growing diversity of the Republican Party and to convey the need to re-elect Bush.
Henry Bonilla would be a terrific Senate candidate in 2006, and an improvement over the not-always-dependable Hutchison. His Hispanic-majority district was made more Republican in the 2004 legislative redistricting, which will allow another Hispanic Republican to hold his seat without difficulty. The GOP can't continue to win in Texas without getting a larger share of the Mexican-American vote, and a Henry Bonilla Senate candidacy will force these voters to pay attention to the Republican message, and once they give us a fair shake I am certain that we can get over 45% of the Mexican-American vote (as George W. Bush gets in Texas).
As an aside, I think that the Texas GOP wasted a golden opportunity to create up to 10 new Hispanic-majority congressional districts with Republican majorities. Even if Hispanic Republicans only won in 5 of those districts in 2004, it would leave only 8 Democrat Congressmen instead of the (at least) 10 that will be elected this year.
ACU Ratings for Representative BONILLA:
Year 2003 - 88
Year 2002 - 92
Lifetime - 91
ACU Ratings for Senator Hutchison:
Year 2003 - 75
Year 2002 - 100
Lifetime - 91
I would support Bonilla in a heartbeat. I think he would make a very good Senator from Texas!
Bonilla rates an "A" from GOA. Hutchison a "B."
Be wary of ratings cherry-picked from a handful of "key votes" -- instead, look at the whole range of positions and philosophy. Just glancing at an ACU rating won't tell you that Bonilla is pro-life, while Hutchison is not.
I would support Bonilla in a heartbeat. I think he would make a very good Senator from Texas!
Governor Perry would have a hard time beating any of the above-mentioned (Dewhurst, Bonilla, et al) for Senator. He's not well-liked east of I-35, even by conservatives and even in his own home county.
That's why they have horse races and opinions...... We'll never know unless the race occurs......
I meant West of I-35, by the way. My mistake.
You're much too kind!
What the ACU ratings do not show is how for example Kay Bailey was a staunch behind the scenes supporter of McCain-Feingold, but once its' passage was guaranteed, she could vote against it.
I've always said the first Hispanic Senator or Governor (modern era) would be a Republican, not a Democrat.
Gonna climb waaaay out on my limb here..but if KBH retiures..the NEXT GOP senator from Texas could well be..wait for it..drumroll please...SBVFT John O'Neill..gawd..that might be enough to make Kerry retire..
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