Posted on 09/08/2001 12:43:23 PM PDT by lormand
Texas Attorney General John Cornyn has decided to seek the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by GOP Sen. Phil Gramm, according to sources close to Cornyn.
Cornyn, a former Texas Supreme Court justice, plans to announce his candidacy Wednesday. Spokesman Ted Delisi confirmed Friday that Cornyn will make an announcement that day, but he declined to say what it would be.
Another GOP source said Friday that Cornyn has canceled a Tuesday event planned to raise money for the re-election campaign he began long before Gramm made his surprise announcement.
Cornyn's anticipated move means Austin Mayor Kirk Watson, the only announced Democratic candidate for attorney general, would not have to run against a Republican incumbent. The list of potential GOP contenders includes Railroad Commissioner Michael Williams, Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs and Texas Supreme Court Justice Harriet O'Neill.
Watson said Cornyn's exit from the race would have no impact on how he campaigns.
"I'm running the same race for the same reasons and the same philosophy as when I got into it," he said. "It doesn't change anything I was doing."
After Gramm announced his intentions Tuesday, Cornyn and Land Commissioner David Dewhurst became the GOP focal point as potential Senate contenders. Dewhurst said Friday that he's still considering the race but would not get in if Gramm resigns early and Gov. Rick Perry appoints a replacement.
The developments came as Perry, who believes that his party would benefit by having a Hispanic candidate atop its ticket, indicated that he favors avoiding a contentious primary. The only way in which that might happen would be if Gramm resigns, allowing Perry to appoint a replacement.
That person would become the favorite to win the special election for the remainder of Gramm's term, as well as the November election for a full six-year term.
Perry said it is "pretty hard to argue" against the political theory that says an unopposed candidate in a primary gets less bloodied than one with opposition.
In Washington, however, Gramm spokesman Larry Neal said speculation about an early resignation is a waste of time.
"That's a closed door," he said. "The likelihood of that happening is infinitesimal."
Neal said Gramm would resign only for a once-in-a-lifetime job offer in the private sector. Gramm has expressed interest in the presidency of Texas A&M University. San Antonio businessman Lionel Sosa, an A&M regent and Republican activist, has said Gramm should resign so Perry can appoint U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla, R-San Antonio, to the seat.
Bonilla, during television interviews Friday afternoon, said, "There is a tremendous amount of opportunity that I would bring to the top of the ticket."
He declined to urge Gramm to resign, however, saying only that the senator should leave office "when it's right for him."
Though Perry said his party could benefit from avoiding a primary battle, he also said it is "far-fetched" to believe that his appointee would scare away potential opponents.
However, one potential Senate contender said Friday that he would stay out of the race if Gramm quits and Perry appoints a replacement. Dewhurst, now seeking the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor, has been thinking about switching to the Senate race and will decide next week.
He said he would not run if Perry gets to name a replacement senator.
"I think that would effectively close the book on either John Cornyn or David Dewhurst taking a look at the U.S. Senate race," he said.
Dewhurst already has spent almost $2 million of his own money for television ads in the race for the GOP nomination for lieutenant governor. Former Texas Supreme Court Justice Greg Abbott is the only other announced GOP contender. Former Comptroller John Sharp and former federal administrator Gil Coronado of San Antonio are seeking the Democratic nomination.
Incumbent Bill Ratliff, a Republican, is not running.
"I am aggressively running for lieutenant governor," Dewhurst said Friday. "I have not made a decision to run for the United States Senate, but my background in business and international affairs would permit me to be comfortable from day one in providing service for the people of Texas."
Dewhurst said it's clear that Perry wants a Hispanic at the top of the 2002 ticket. Bonilla and Railroad Commissioner Tony Garza are the top Hispanic Republican contenders in Texas.
Privately, a top Perry aide said Friday that GOP officials have deep doubts about whether a Hispanic could win the GOP Senate nomination.
"It would be difficult for a Hispanic to win a primary for Senate on the Republican side, particularly with strong, well-known candidates like Cornyn or Dewhurst," said the Perry confidante. "It's easier to do if there is a built-in advantage, such as incumbency."
Also considering a run is Rep. Joe Barton, R-Ennis.
The potential field for the Democratic Senate nomination includes Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk, former Attorney General Dan Morales, Houston Rep. Ken Bentsen and former Senate candidates Richard Fisher and Victor Morales. Lawyer Ed Cunningham has announced his candidacy.
Perry's November opponent could be Democrat Tony Sanchez, a wealthy Laredo businessman who is counting on an appeal to Hispanic voters. Asked Friday if it would be helpful for the GOP to have a Hispanic as its Senate nominee, Perry said, "Diversity is a strength of this state.
"I think it reflects Texas and the diversity of Texas," he said, stopping far short of indicating support for any potential candidate.
Perry insisted that he is not pressuring Gramm to quit early.
"I would like to meet the individual that can put pressure on Phil Gramm," he said.
You may contact Ken Herman at 445-1718 or kherman@statesman.com and Laylan Copelin at 445-3617 or lcopelin@statesman.com.
Also, the last thing that Texas and the US Senate needs is to replace a PHD of Economics with a scum sucking lawyer.
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