Hutchison's Last Stand [Politics]

Common knowledge says that the race should be close: a popular Republican Senator running against a Republican Governor who only received 39% of the vote in 2006. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is running against Governor Perry after all, the guy who brought on the TransTexas Corridor, the mandatory HPV vaccine order, and anything TxDOT. But federal decisions from the last decade had put the federal government, economy, and foreign relations in a free-for-all, and Senator Hutchison supported most of them.

Today, Hutchison has Vice President Cheney, Washington D.C. and President George H.W. Bush, while Governor Perry is cheering on his Tea Party friends and has the blessing of the political mystery that is Sarah Palin.

Now the longest serving Texas Governor polls in the upper forties of likely Republican primary voters while Hutchison sits in the twenties. In fact, Hutchison’s poll numbers place her in a close competitive race against previously low profile candidate Debra Medina.

Year after year Hutchison has been one of Texas’s favorite politicians, but now she is a long shot to win the Republican Primary. Hutchison had said she would resign as Senator after the primary; however, doing so doesn’t make sense if she loses. Now, staying around for 2012 probably won’t be any easier for her.

If Hutchison were to lose the Republican Primary, especially without a runoff, she would expose her vulnerability, leaving several Texas Republicans looking to move up as potential 2012 Senate Primary challengers.

As parties go, the Texas Republican Party is considered as conservative as it gets, and Hutchison may appear to be the most moderate candidate compared to her future Republican challengers. There is no reason to think that the same arguments made against Hutchison in today’s Republican Primary won’t be used against her two years from now. If this is the case, then Hutchison could easily find herself in the same situation she does today.

The question might just be, does Hutchison want to stay in politics? If she doesn’t, then she could simply step away if she loses the gubernatorial primary - leaving Republicans to fight for the Senate seat this fall as well as giving the Democratic Party an opportunity to win it.

Nothing Hutchison has done seems to show that she no longer wants to be a major player in Texas politics. Therefore, the worst thing she could do might be to walk away from the senatorship. After all, if Hutchison walks away and the seat happens to become Democratic, her conservative status could continue to drop. Currently, Democrat John Sharp leads in a group of probable senatorial hopefuls.

If Hutchison loses the primary but decides to continue her political career, she may have only two choices: first, she can pull a Strayhorn and try to run for governor as an independent. This is not necessarily as risky as it sound; Hutchison is still an overall popular figure in Texas, which might give her enough edge to beat presumptive nominees Perry and White. Her other option might be to stay around as Senator and run to the right of Senator Cornyn and Governor Perry in order to win the 2012 Senate primary. However, she will still have to fight charges that she would run for governor in 2014.

Both options are far from optimal. Either way, Texas' most popular politician faces an uphill battle and her race for the governorship may just be her last stand.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@austinist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By B.Domangue in News on February 19, 2010 10:00 AM 0 Comments

Comments [rss]

Rodolfo V.

KBH is right! Perry talks about Washington politics and not Texas Politics. The first person to talk about term limits was Medina. Perry is not a fiscal conservative and he has become power hungry. Absolute power corrupts! Perry has been corrupted. Perry has got to go! He's been there nine years and nothing good has come of it. Vote out all incumbants starting with Perry. Sad - So sad. It's too bad talking heads have so much influence on the gullible public. Beck, Hannity and Brush Himoff have wielded their pseudo influence with broadcasting and false accusations. Wake up America. Open your "Eyes of Texas" Texans. Perry has definitely outstayed his welcome. It's too bad we don't have "Term Limits". It's too bad we don't have "Initiative and Referendum". Add to this conundrum major newspapers throw in their support. We need to clean house in Austin and Washington. Throw out all career politicians. Lets get new blood cause nothing is getting done now.

Vote Medina for Governor!!

StJakk

Rodolfo V. I agree with you completely. As a conservative I do not believe that Texas could take another four yrs. of Rick Perry and I don't believe theres a dimes bit of difference between KBH and White. When so many angry voters across the country are rallying behind a return to the Constitution and incumbent after incumbent falls or retires,it would be unthinkable to not vote for Ms.Medina. We must end the reign of KingRichard 'servant to the corporate crown' and restore an accountable Govenor in Texas.I believe the entire nation is watching Texas now. MEDINA for Govenor.

Rodolfo V.

I'm at a total loss as to why people still back Perry. Maybe because he's a graduate of A&M(1972). There have charges of cronyism and politicization of appointments, rewarding political supporters and punishing opponents. He has handed out prestigious positions to state boards and commissions and retracted them when He deems actionable. He has killed popular legislation that has passed with substantial majorities in the state legislature. Perry politicized federal stimulus funding for unemployment benefits by refusing them. Additionally he refused public education monies for the same reasons. Add to this mix his attempt to ram through the Trans-Texas Corridor with heavy-handedness and intimidation of local officials. Perry inherited the Governorship from Bush and he has let the arrogance of his office corrupt him. We need to do a house cleaning. Perry and Hutchinson have out stayed their welcome. Do not be swayed with the constant rhetoric being spewed by the well-financed elite. Remember absolute power corrupts. “Vote out the Encumbants”. Vote Out The Encumbant Republicans —Vote Out The Encumbant - Democrats —Vote Out The Encumbant entrenched political heirarchy. Since we do not have “Initiative and Referendum” nor “Term limitation” in many states and areas I feel “We the people” should vote out all the entrenched career politicians. Vote Medina!