March 28, 2005
Oh, won't you stay, just a little bit longer?

The mind games between Rick Perry and Kay Bailey Hutchison about KBH's future plans continue on.


As Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison eyes a possible race against Gov. Rick Perry, a network of key Republican activists and power players is moving to send her a clear message: Don't do it.

In letters, e-mails and direct conversations, nervous Republicans have told Ms. Hutchison they want her to seek re-election and abandon thoughts of targeting the incumbent governor in what they expect would be a fractious GOP primary.

Aides to Ms. Hutchison, who will spend next week on a fund-raising tour of the state, dismiss the effort. They say that the opposition is being orchestrated by the Perry political camp and that Ms. Hutchison has widespread support.

But the prospects of an expensive, intra-party battle between the two has rattled many of the GOP faithful, according to interviews with top Republicans and supporters on both sides.

"It would be like throwing a hand grenade in a chicken yard," said former Texas Republican Party chairman George Strake, a Perry supporter.


Does anyone else get the mental image of a bunch of birds with blackened feathers and dangling beaks, like Daffy Duck right after Elmer Fudd blasts him with his shotgun? I'm just curious.

Ms. Hutchison has not said whether she will try to unseat the governor, but she has floated the idea in conversations with fellow Republicans.

Her political team expressed confidence she has a strong backing within the party, and contended that some who would prefer to avoid an intramural feud will side with her if she makes the race.

"The amount of support from average people has been shocking – people out of the blue coming up to her," said Hutchison campaign manager Terry Sullivan.


Politicians are many things, but I think most of them have a fairly firm grip on their own chances in a given election. If KBH decides to run, it'll be because she thinks she can win. There may be some ego tied up in that, and maybe she's not seeing a representative sample of pro-Perry forces, I don't know. But I do know that if all she wants to do is come home to Texas, simply retiring is an option. It's not like she'll be facing bleak job prospects here.

Via PerryVsWorld.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on March 28, 2005 to Election 2006 | TrackBack
Comments

"Does anyone else get the mental image of a bunch of birds with blackened feathers and dangling beaks, like Daffy Duck right after Elmer Fudd blasts him with his shotgun? I'm just curious."

I compare it more with Foghorn Leghorn after the stick of dynamite gets sent back to him by the dog.
"Luckily, I keep all of my feathers numbered in case of an emergency." :-)

Posted by: William Hughes on March 28, 2005 8:35 AM

Oh, that's much better. Thanks!

Posted by: Charles Kuffner on March 28, 2005 8:48 AM

Politicians are many things, but I think most of them have a fairly firm grip on their own chances in a given election.

I'd have to disagree.

I've talked to some reputable pollsters who have told me that one of the toughest things they have to do is try to explain reality to politicians who just don't accept that people don't love them and want to elect them.

I'm not saying that's the case with KBH -- but in general, I think many pols, especially ones who have won on a big stage (like KBH) don't have a really firm grip on political reality sometimes.

Posted by: kevin whited on March 28, 2005 8:50 AM