Comments on: Another Endangered GOP Senate Seat http://www.frumforum.com/another-endangered-gop-senate-seat Building a conservatism that can win again Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:50:44 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: balconesfault http://www.frumforum.com/another-endangered-gop-senate-seat/comment-page-1#comment-60809 balconesfault Wed, 19 Aug 2009 13:28:05 +0000 http://www.newmajority.com/?p=10128#comment-60809 If Perry is the nominee in a general election, the Texas Governor seat might be in real danger. Particularly after the hard right tack that the primary battle looks to take. It's important to remember that last gubernatorial election, Perry only drew 39% of the vote, and won because Kinky Friedman and Carole Keeton Rylander Strayhorn Etc each captured substantial numbers of moderate or independent votes. And Perry has made himself a lightning rod for mockery in recent months. Personally, I think Hutchison is just tired of Washington - she's 65, she adopted a couple kids in 2001 who I think she'll want to spend more time in Texas with, she's not a big ideological policy wonk who enjoys doing battle on the Hill. She's naturally more moderate than one can be in the Republican Congressional Delegation without drawing a lot of attention to oneself as a "maverick" or "RINO", and I don't think she would enjoy either label. So being a Senator may just not be much fun for her now. And remember that in Texas, it's an open primary - so if the Dems don't have competitive races going on - which certainly will be the case if the big guns divide up the Senate and Gov races - independents will vote in the Repub Primary, and a lot of Dems might even do so. Independents will almost certainly vote Hutchison ... Dems will vote Hutchison if they want a more moderate conservative as Governor, and Perry if they want a chance for a Democratic Governor. If Perry is the nominee in a general election, the Texas Governor seat might be in real danger. Particularly after the hard right tack that the primary battle looks to take. It’s important to remember that last gubernatorial election, Perry only drew 39% of the vote, and won because Kinky Friedman and Carole Keeton Rylander Strayhorn Etc each captured substantial numbers of moderate or independent votes. And Perry has made himself a lightning rod for mockery in recent months.

Personally, I think Hutchison is just tired of Washington – she’s 65, she adopted a couple kids in 2001 who I think she’ll want to spend more time in Texas with, she’s not a big ideological policy wonk who enjoys doing battle on the Hill. She’s naturally more moderate than one can be in the Republican Congressional Delegation without drawing a lot of attention to oneself as a “maverick” or “RINO”, and I don’t think she would enjoy either label. So being a Senator may just not be much fun for her now.

And remember that in Texas, it’s an open primary – so if the Dems don’t have competitive races going on – which certainly will be the case if the big guns divide up the Senate and Gov races – independents will vote in the Repub Primary, and a lot of Dems might even do so. Independents will almost certainly vote Hutchison … Dems will vote Hutchison if they want a more moderate conservative as Governor, and Perry if they want a chance for a Democratic Governor.

]]> By: blake.seitz http://www.frumforum.com/another-endangered-gop-senate-seat/comment-page-1#comment-60729 blake.seitz Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:47:38 +0000 http://www.newmajority.com/?p=10128#comment-60729 As a Texan and a moderate, I had initially cheered Hutchinson's enterance into the gubernatorial race. Now, as I consider the implications, I'm coming around to your way of thinking, Jeb. Hutchinson might've bitten off more than she can chew with Rick Perry. As a Texan and a moderate, I had initially cheered Hutchinson’s enterance into the gubernatorial race. Now, as I consider the implications, I’m coming around to your way of thinking, Jeb.

Hutchinson might’ve bitten off more than she can chew with Rick Perry.

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