Posted on 12/21/2004 6:30:14 AM PST by Dubya
Hoping to corner the market on social conservative support, Gov. Rick Perry unveiled a list of endorsements Monday that read like a Who's Who of the Republican right.
Perry made the announcement as he heads into a volatile legislative session with two potential Republican challengers breathing down his neck: U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and state Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn.
While the two women are privately considering challenging him in the 2006 primaries, Perry is aggressively lining up backers in a bid to become the longest-serving governor in Texas history.
Although only 46 percent of Texans approved of the job Perry is doing in the most recent Scripps Howard Texas Poll, he has strong backing among social conservative groups that are influential in GOP primary races.
Perry is a "model for conservatives across this country," said Kyleen Wright, president of Texans United for Life, an anti-abortion group based in Irving. She expressed dismay that Hutchison and Strayhorn are thinking about running against the governor.
"I can't understand why they would even want to challenge someone who has been so good to Texas and the Republican Party and the life issues," she said. "It's kind of shocking to us, and we wish they would stay put."
Others endorsing Perry's re-election bid were Cathie Adams of the Texas Eagle Forum, Norm Mason and Jeanne Mason of the Texas Christian Coalition, Kelly Shackelford of the Free Market Foundation and Tim Lambert of the Texas Home School Coalition.
Hutchison's spokesman Dave Beckwith declined to comment on the endorsements. Strayhorn issued a short written statement.
"This is not the season for politics," Strayhorn said in the statement. "This is the season for family, friends and goodwill. I wish all Texans a joyous and safe holiday."
Anticipating a potentially bruising contest, Perry's operatives have been poring over Hutchison's record in particular, searching for vulnerabilities with anti-abortion voters.
All the while they're touting the governor's credentials on abortion, state budget cuts and other touchstone conservative issues. Perry is against abortion in all cases except rape, incest and when the life of the mother is in danger.
Hutchison enjoys high popularity ratings, but officials in the Perry camp believe that her approval rating would sink with publicity highlighting a record on abortion and embryonic stem cell research that is more moderate than the governor's. Hutchison has expressed support for abortion rights but has voted to restrict the practice.
Hutchison backers, however, point to her high ratings from conservative groups, including the National Right to Life Committee.
Houston attorney Pat Oxford, chairman of Hutchison's last two statewide races, said in a recent interview that the Perry camp should be spending more time solving important state issues instead of focusing on "political tactics."
"I must say I have been somewhat underwhelmed by [Perry's] choices regarding leadership decisions," Oxford said.
"Texas' most pressing issues are education, health care, highways and some other big issues," he added. "What they're talking to you about is what their guy is going to do about the abortion issue in the Republican primary, which is probably of interest to, say, 8 percent of the voters in Texas."
Perry became governor in December 2000 after George W. Bush left to become president. Perry was elected to a four-year term in 2002. If he were re-elected to another four-year term, Perry would become the longest-serving Texas governor.
Bill Clements now holds the record, having served eight years as governor. Until the 1970s, the governor served two-year terms. Jay Root, (512) 476-4294 jroot@star-telegram.com
KB Hutchinson is thinking about being a Governor and then the President in 2008....
Let's hope something sane happens for a change and Perry wins out....
This is going to be a nasty fight. I'm not from TX, but I see a lot of Perry-haters on this board.
KB Hutchinson is thinking about being a Governor and then the President in 2008....
AND there are as many (if not more) KBH (aka; 'RINO') dislikers also on this forum.
thats my guess....
but to do that, she would need to be the governor, which isnt going to happen...
which isnt going to happen...
The posturing is continuing..........
That's for sure. By reading FR you would think that Americans consider President Bush to be a radical socialist.
I know Strayhorn and Hutcison but I've never even met Perry.
I'm voting for Perry.
I'm not a huge fan of Gov. Perry, but he did get legislative redistricting passed, and compared to Hutchison, he's a towering intellect.
Hutchinson = pro-abort
Perry = pro-life (or at least votes that way)
Decision made.
If the Rino "Hate Crimes" Perry is considered the "Conservative" in this race, God help us all.
Yea, I agree, but Stayhorn or whatever her name is today is horrible. Perry is pushing for property tax relief. That is good.
"Bill Clements now holds the record, having served eight years as governor."
His 8 years were divided by the 4 years of Mark White.
bump!
Shackleford, Adams, and all the others should be outright ASHAMED at themselves for signing up with the guy who appointed Xavier Rodriguez to the Texas Supreme Court.
Believe me - its with good reason. Perry embodies everything bad that you could ever get from a Republican politician - he's inept, he's self absorbed, he operates on a crony system of favors ala Bill Clinton in Arkansas, and he's a RINO who never truly left the Democrat Party from when he was a state rep a little over decade ago.
Hutchison is far from ideal, but she is nowhere near the RINO that Rick Perry is. She's a dyed in the wool Republican with some moderate strains of a few issues. Perry, OTOH, is a good ole boy west Texas Democrat disguising himself as a Republican to get elected.
If you need proof look no further than Perry's appointments: Henry Cueller for Secretary of State, Xavier Rodriguez for Supreme Court, several dozen district judges in counties around the state - they're all Democrats or ex-Democrats who became "Republicans" only to get appointed. They're also the worst of the worst type of Democrats - turncoat liberal climbers with crony connections to either Perry himself or some big trial lawyer lawfirm that gave money to Perry's campaign. Kay may appoint people who are moderate on some issues and she will also appoint many conservatives, but one thing is certain: you won't be able to doubt their Republican credentials. The same CANNOT be said of Rick Perry's appointees or even Rick Perry himself.
Don't be so sure about either of those things. Redistricting passed due to Tom DeLay and Tom DeLay alone. If anything, Perry almost blew it on several occassions.
As for intellects, anybody who has spent any time in a conversation with both (and I have) will tell you that Hutchison can run intellectual rings around Rick Perry, and that itself isn't exactly saying much for Hutchison. Perry pays more attention to his hair than any real policy issue.
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