Posted on 11/14/2009 1:39:52 PM PST by deport
WASHINGTON — Gov. Rick Perry has been campaigning against Washington, and Washington is returning the favor — no endorsements here.
In the back and forth between Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, and Perry over gubernatorial endorsements, it’s no contest when it comes to the Texas congressional delegation: It’s Hutchison 10 and Perry 0.
Ten of the 20 U.S. House Republicans have publicly endorsed Hutchison, and insiders say it is unlikely that any of the remaining 10 will endorse Perry, preferring to remain neutral.
Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, who until now has not said what he would do, told the Star-Telegram that he will not endorse either candidate. "They’re both his friends," Barton spokesman Sean Brown said. "He won’t choose between the two of them."
The three other GOP lawmakers who represent parts of Tarrant County — Reps. Kay Granger of Fort Worth, Michael Burgess of Lewisville and Kenny Marchant of Coppell — have endorsed Hutchison.
"I am very proud of the members who are supporting me," Hutchison said. "We have a great working relationship. We’re all fighting Washington."
Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble, referring to his fellow Texas members, said, "I don’t know anyone who’s endorsing the governor.
"He’s been making these comments with broad brush denouncing everyone in Washington. It’s inappropriate." .......
Marchant is another member who asked Hutchison to stand down four years ago.
"I told Kay that if she would wait for Rick’s next term, I would help her," said Marchant, who did not anticipate a Perry re-election bid. "After 10 years, I feel it’s time for some change."............. end snips
(Excerpt) Read more at star-telegram.com ...
Hutchison will stay in Senate as she runs for governor
Republican says she will resign after March primary.
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Saturday, November 14, 2009
GALVESTON — Kay Bailey Hutchison will stay in the U.S. Senate as she tries to unseat Gov. Rick Perry in the March Republican primary, abandoning her intentions to leave that post and focus full time on the governor's race.
Hutchison plans to tell the Texas Federation of Republican Women in a speech today that she wants to continue to fight the Obama administration's agenda on health care and global warming even as she runs for governor.
"I simply cannot leave the Senate before Obama care and cap-and-trade have been defeated," Hutchison says in excerpts of her speech, which were released by her campaign.
Hutchison will resign the Senate seat next year after the primary.
"I will be resigning this Senate seat," she says in the prepared remarks. "For all of the good Republicans out there who plan on running for my Senate seat next year, make no mistake, this will happen."
Despite her note of certainty, Hutchison's decision to quit in the middle of her term is likely to upend the usual process that Republicans use to fill out their statewide ballot.
Hutchison's decision to stay put for now means others who had wanted to succeed her will have to stay put as well. For example, Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is widely believed to want the Senate seat, and Attorney General Greg Abbott has his eye on succeeding Dewhurst as lieutenant governor.
Now both men are likely to seek four more years in offices that they've already held for two terms, knowing that once the Hutchison resignation takes effect, they could jump to other races.
"Her decision today is probably greatly disappointing to probably 40 or 50 people who are seeking office, some very good people," said Sen. Dan Patrick, a Houston Republican who has endorsed Perry. "I'm surprised, if only because, if the latest polls are correct, staying in Washington has not helped her."
A number of the Democrats and Republicans who hope to succeed her put a positive spin on things Friday, saying they would continue to run with the knowledge that the job will be open at some point.
end snips
It’s like trying to choose between McCain and Lindsey Graham
What a choice! I’ll take Perry over the Washington DC Rino.
Sarah Palin will come campaign for Perry.
Push come to shove, I will support Perry over Hutchison. Everyone who stays long enough in DC learns to lust after federal pork.
Push come to shove, I will support Perry over Hutchison. Everyone who stays long enough in DC learns to lust after federal pork.
Now, it’s not quite THAT bad... despite a couple of boneheaded moves by Perry in the past, I will support him over KBH any day of the week.
I don’t really get this? Why is she running against him? Is this a schism among personalities in the Texas GOP? Does she just want to get back to Texas?
I don’t have any problem with her holding on to the Senate seat. It does not make that much sense to let the guy you are running against fill your seat at this time. [As an aside, does anyone remember all the stories of Kerry and Obama not resigning their Senate seats while they ran for another office?]
Hutchison plans to tell the Texas Federation of Republican Women in a speech today that she wants to continue to fight the Obama administration's agenda on health care and global warming even as she runs for governor.
"I simply cannot leave the Senate before Obama care and cap-and-trade have been defeated," Hutchison says
Does this 'itch actually want to strengthen the Democrat candidate for her seat as against the Republican?!
Seriously. The alternative isn't clear to me.
Anyway, yeah, Kay, you really can leave the Senate. WE DON'T NEED YOU. We don't even particularly WANT you. I, for one, am excited about getting virtually ANY of the Republican alternatives (currently supporting Michael Williams) into your Senate seat as soon as possible.
Me too, but I hope we get a real conservative in the primary.
“Rep. Ted Poe, R-Humble, referring to his fellow Texas members, said, “I don’t know anyone who’s endorsing the governor.”
“He’s been making these comments with broad brush denouncing everyone in Washington. It’s inappropriate.”
Maybe it is because he hurt the feelings of the folks in DC.
Perry has no congressional endorsements. Is that a bad thing?
I like our third choice—a very conservative Republican by the name of Debra Medina. That’s where my vote will go.
This is the first sign that her poll numbers don't look good. If her internal polls showed she was beating Perry, she wouldn't cling to her present job.
Perry has no congressional endorsements. Is that a bad thing?
I’d not think it’s a good thing. A gov. and none of your congressional delegation will endorse. Some of these endorsing KBH aren’t RINOs as some like to use the term.
Push doesn’t even have to come to shove — I will support Perry over Kay.
Things shall get real ugly when Dick Cheney and Sarah Palin come to Texas to endorse their respective candidates. The tie breaker could be Dubya.
KBH is too Washington establishment. She will ruin Texas by making it Republican lite.
Sarah Palin will come campaign for Perry.
It will be interesting to see the outcome of her coming to Texas to campaign for Perry. Especially if she decides to throw her boots into the Presidential campaign in 2012. I wouldn’t think she’d want to tick off a bunch of primary voters.
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