TX-Gov: Perry, Hutchison Raise Money from Washington

by: David Mauro

Thu Jan 21, 2010 at 09:05 AM CST

It would be expected for Kay Bailey Hutchison, who has been in the U.S. Senate since 1993, to raise a significant amount of money from Washington, D.C. for her gubernatorial campaign.

However, Rick Perry -- the guy who cannot go one speech without blaming all of Texas' problems on "Washington" -- actually raised more money from Washington than Hutchison did in 2009.

From Jason Embry's First Reading:

Kate Alexander, the Statesman’s data guru, ran some numbers and found that, in the second half of 2009, Perry raised $37,500 in Washington, while Hutchison raised $19,900. For all of 2009, Hutchison raised $45,165 from Washington and Perry raised $38,225. (As a sitting governor, Perry was barred from raising money for almost all of the first half of 2009 because of the legislative session.)

Embry notes that Hutchison transfered $600,000 from her senate account and so, if that amount is included, she likely did raise more from Washington in 2009.

There should be no surprise that national Republicans are taking a financial interest in a primary that is billing billed as a battle for the soul of the Republican Party. What is slightly surprising is that Perry leads Hutchison in fundraising in a city that she has spent more than fifteen years working in.

Kay Bailey Outraged by Sen. Reid's Factual Remarks

by: reed.underwood

Wed Dec 09, 2009 at 09:35 PM CST

TX-Sen Round Up

by: David Mauro

Wed Sep 02, 2009 at 05:08 PM CDT

Even though the race may not officially exist yet, there is plenty going on in the race to replace Kay Bailey Hutchison in the U.S. Senate.

• If you're in Austin, John Sharp is launching his campaign at Abel's on the Lake at 6pm tonight. Suggested contribution is $35.
• Speaking of Sharp, Galveston County Democratic Party Chair Lloyd Criss has a BOR diary up encouraging the former Comptroller to get out of the Senate race and run for Lt. Governor. Criss, as you might imagine, is supporting Houston Mayor Bill White for the U.S. Senate.
• Bill White's campaign has named Joe Hamill to be their Central Texas Regional Field Director. Hamill, an Austin native and Austin High graduate, was the Field Director for the Travis County Democratic Party's Coordinated Campaign last year. Austin area supporters for White will also be registering voters at First Thursday on South Congress tomorrow (Facebook event info)
• While Whole Foods CEO John Mackey's health care editorial from the WSJ inspired a small protest outside the store's Austin headquarters it also apparently got Russell Verney, a former advisor to Ross Perot, thinking Mackey could be a solid candidate for the Senate. Unsurprisingly, a Whole Foods spokesperson tells the Statesman "there is absolutely no truth to that rumor."
• Bill White's campaign is hosting a party at the Belmont in Austin for the DNC meeting on September 12. Still plenty of time to buy tickets, which start at $20.
• Paul Burka writes, as we have reported before, that Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert is considering jumping into the Senate race, too. 
• Gardner Selby had a story a few days ago about Austin area legislators taking sides in the U.S. Senate race. Diana Maldonado and Valinda Bolton are hosting Sharp's event tonight while Patrick Rose, Mark Strama and Dawnna Dukes are backing White.

Good for Perry, Bad for Texans

by: David Kobierowski

Sun Aug 02, 2009 at 11:52 AM CDT

Richie makes a lot of interesting points in the letter.  Some include:

Here's the Republican primary politics price tag on just this one issue.  The state will have to borrow - with interest - as much as $2B to cover the shortfall in our unemployment fund.  Texas employers will pay a "Republican Primary Tax Hike" because our tax dollars went to other states.

The unemployment fund fiasco should send an ominous warning to voters about what happens when politicians stay in office so long that they put their political careers ahead of what's right for Texas.

Today, we are paying the prices for a Republican primary between two politicians who have shown neither the character nor the leadership that made Texas great.

My Take:

Realize, what Rick Perry did, as horrible as it is for Texans, was politically brilliant.  This is candy for his 400,000+ Republican primary votes he'll need to secure his win over Hutchison.    

Perry was down by as much as 25% before this, and up at least 10% after.  

Smart move for Perry, horrible for Texans.  This is the reason Perry will win the Repub Primary in March 10'.  He will do anything to win.

Can you blame Gov. Perry for wanting to win and doing whatever it takes to win?  A lot of folks in that position might have done the same thing.  He's simply pandering to his conservative primary base.

What would you do if you were in his shoes, knowing this act would likely help you win the Governor's seat?

Best,
David Kobierowski

More hypocrisy from Texas senators

by: Blue_in_Guadalupe

Mon Jul 27, 2009 at 05:37 PM CDT

Our senators claim to make their votes based on what's good for Texas and the country but how is building a cold war era fighter that can't be flown near an aircraft carrier and hasn't been used in combat over Baghdad because its super-sensitive electronics can't deal with the mass of radio signals good for the country?

I've heard some Republicans say they voted for the F-22 to save jobs; but their party generally claims, quite loudly, that government spending doesn't create jobs, so which is it? There are plenty of worthwhile projects that $1,750,000,000 could fund including bridge repairs, building schools, green energy and energy efficiency projects that would pay dividends for all of us for years to come.

Rally and petition presentation for Health Care Reform at Senator Hutchinson's office / San Antonio

by: Blue_in_Guadalupe

Tue Jul 07, 2009 at 05:36 PM CDT

*** Comal County - carpool from 2850 Bunker St, New Braunfels, 78132.  For more information, please contact Rob Ragels at robragels@aol.com

*** Guadalupe County - carpool from the park-and-ride lot across from McDonald's on IH10 at SH46.  For more information, please contact  Alicia Helton, arhelton@satx.rr.com, 830-401-4231

*** Rally Begins at 3133 General Hudnell Drive at 11:30, July 9th, 2009***

Sign up here http://pol.moveon.org/event/he...

Local Residents Hold Rally, Call On Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison and John Cornyn to Support Obama's Public Health Insurance Option

The rally will Profile Stories Of South Central Texas Health Care Workers, Small Business Owners Struggling With Current Health Care Crisis  

Hutchison Supporters Respond to Perry Consultant's "Whorehouse" Comments

by: David Mauro

Thu May 21, 2009 at 01:41 AM CDT

When Democrats talk about broadening their appeal, we usually use the word "big tent."

Republicans, or at least Rick Perry consultant Dave Carney, prefer to use the word "whorehouse."

From a recent article written by Wayne Slater of the Dallas Morning News:

Perry political consultant Dave Carney said the Republican governor agrees the party should welcome new voters.

"But that doesn't mean you take your principles and throw them out the door and become a whorehouse and let anybody in who wants to come in, regardless," Carney said. 

Whether he meant to or not (and, as you might expect, Team Perry issued a statement saying Carney's statement had nothing to do with the Governor's race), his words upset quite a few supporters of Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Seven women who support Hutchison sent a letter to Perry, part of which is excerpted below and all of which can be found after the jump:

As businesswomen, community leaders and mothers, it is always concerning and disheartening when we see people resort to behavior aimed at belittling women. Therefore, you cannot imagine how appalling it was to see your campaign's chief strategist liken our Senior Senator's primary campaign to "opening the doors of a whorehouse" in the pages of this past Saturday's Dallas Morning News.

 

While we come from all corners of Texas and from all walks of life, we come together to express beliefs that are shared by countless others. There is no room in campaign politics for your strategist's recent comments, and even less room for it in a discussion about the future of our great state. Not only do his words do a disservice to our efforts to provide conservative leadership, they denigrate the accomplishments of women everywhere.

Whether Carney was specifically talking about the Governor's race or the party's future in general is almost irrelevant. At this point, they go hand in hand.

Next year's Republican Gubernatorial primary is shaping up to be a battle royale for the heart and soul of the GOP. Republicans across the nation are wondering what is next: will the party choose to completely turn its back on moderates and independents, content to champion a narrow agenda that appeals to a dwindling base? Or will they decide to go with so-called "moderation" and start to long road back by moving away from social arch-conservatism.

Next March, we will know the answer. One thing is clear from the campaign rhetoric 10 months before election day: neither side will go down without a fight.

Sen. Hutchison's office may need a Texas geography lesson

by: austin392

Tue May 19, 2009 at 08:04 PM CDT

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zpAF...

Who is representing taxpaying, hardworking, recession enduring TEXANS? NO ONE!

by: TexasCowboy

Wed Feb 11, 2009 at 07:32 PM CST

Senators Kay Hutchison and John Cornyn along with U. S. Representatives from Texas voted against helping average Texans when they opposed the bailout; they opposed helping Texans who are hurting and who are in trouble.  Their actions are the epitome of irresponsibility:

Kay Bailey Hutchison Misses Major Votes on Stimulus Package

by: Phillip Martin

Sat Feb 07, 2009 at 10:50 AM CST

I'll lead with this -- why does everything think she's invincible again?

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, missed six votes Friday night on the economic stimulus deal, instead fulfilling a promise to speak at the Richardson Chamber of Commerce.

Hutchison, the state's senior senator, was one of only three senators who missed votes. Ther other two missing senators were Sen. Judd Gregg, R-N.H.,  who is not participating in Senate votes because he has been nominated to be secretary of commerce and Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., who is being treated for a brain tumor. Kennedy, who was resting in Florida, has now returned to Washington for a likely final vote on the bill Monday.

Senator Hutchison, when given the choice between serving her country and serving her own campaign, chose herself. She should have been there for the votes -- I don't care if she wouldn't have voted the way I wanted. I expect, at the absolute very least, for a U.S. Senator --- one of only two people in a state of more than 20 million --- to fulfill her role and act like a Senator.

Instead, Kay Bailey Hutchison chose to act like a politician. Pathetic.