Ben Barnes to Join the KBH Campaign Effort?
By Byron LaMasters
Save Texas Reps reports:
Word out of the nation’s capital this weekend is that Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison has asked former Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes to head up a “Democrats for Hutchison,” sparking renewed speculation that Texas’ senior solon has made her decision to take on Rick Perry in what promises to be a bruising GOP primary.
Barnes, a longtime Hutchison supporter, was at the center of last fall’s CBS controversy over reports that George W. Bush was AWOL from much of his National Guard duties in the early Seventies. For Hutchison to call on him now has raised eyebrows among her supporters who wonder whether aligning herself this closely to the Bush-bashing Barnes makes sense in a GOP primary.
I don't particularly see the logic in this on either side. I don't see how the support of Ben Barnes helps Kay Bailey Hutchison in a Republican primary, and it certainly doesn't help Ben Barnes in Democratic circles. Some Democrats are likely to vote in the Perry/Hutchison primary race, but I for one, will strongly urge Democrats to not participate in the 2006 GOP primary.
Greg offers up some thoughts that I'm inclined to agree with. Sarah reminds us that KBH is no moderate. Compared to her Senate counterparts Phil Gramm then John Cornyn, yes, KHB is a relative moderate. But a relative moderate in the Texas Republican Party is still a right-winger on the national political spectrum.
On the other hand Rick Perry vs. the World reports receiving this information via email:
The Ben Barnes story is totally phony. KBH hasn't talked to Barnes in months. He will not be doing any fundraising for her. This is a completely phony story, probably put out by Perry people to cast doubt on her Republican credentials.
We'll see how this all sorts out sooner or later, I suppose.
Posted by Byron LaMasters at February 21, 2005 10:27 PM
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These sons of b**ches are going to be launching a steady stream of whisper-campaigns and innuendo and slime against each other until (and probably, after) next summer.
Really, maybe I should just stop blogging on GOP Mud Wrestling and let them destroy each without inteference.
How 'bout it, Byron?
I'd be more inclined to believe that Barnes would be helping out former democrat Carol Keaton Strayhorn, but hey, we'll see. I was looking for some contact info for Barnes actually, would anyone know his address?
