HUTCHISON ENLISTS BEN BARNES FOR HER RACE
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.
It should also be noted that Barnes is also close to Carole Keeton Strayhorn, the feisty State Comptroller who is also said to be looking at a primary challenge against the hapless Perry. Strayhorn boasts not one, but two, sons who work directly for the President in Washingon, leading some back here in Texas to conclude that she has at least winking approval for the White House for her ongoing jihad against Perry - the least popular politician in the state, according to the latest Texas Poll.
Seems like "Mr. Democrat" has a habit for falling for those Republican ladies. I'm doing a video interview of Governor Barnes on the 9th of February, please submit questions you'd like to see asked.
And to all those on the Texas blog scene that I offended yesterday. Sincere apologies. Lots of madness in ol' SmartyVille yesterday.
