Hutchison Officially Taking On Texas Gov. Perry, Raises Millions

[babylonsister]

Hutchison Officially Taking On Texas Gov. Perry, Raises Millions

By Greg Giroux | July 13, 2009 5:00 PM


After months of running an "exploratory" campaign for governor -- and raising oodles of money for that prospective 2010 race -- Texas Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison made it official Monday: She is challenging Republican incumbent Rick Perry in the gubernatorial primary next March.

Hutchison also announced Monday, at a news conference in her hometown of Dallas, that she raised $6.7 million for her campaign in the first six months of this year, ending what her campaign said was "the first phase" of her bid for governor. Hutchison earlier had transferred $8 million from her Senate campaign treasury to her account for the governor's race, which now reports more than $12 million in cash on hand.

"While phase one of the campaign was designed to ensure we have the resources to deliver Kay's conservative message to voters across our state, it is now time to begin delivering that message," wrote Rick Wiley, Hutchison's campaign manager, in a memorandum.

He added that Hutchison would hold a formal announcement event in August, when Congress will be on its summer recess.

more...

http://blogs.cqpolitics.com/eyeon2010/2009/07/sen-hutchison-officially-in-te.html

[jeffweemsforRRC]

1. Ha!

She has already lost.

What a lost sheep.

[hobbit709]

2. Let the Bighair vs. Goodhair battle begin.

[WolverineDG]

3. Gather ye popcorn while ye may

:popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

dg

[sonias]

4. And the Republican showdown begins

AAS Editorial 7/14/09
And the Republican showdown begins
EDITORIAL BOARD

(snip)

For the first time since they took over state government in the 1990s, Texas Republicans are about to enjoy — endure? — their first-ever high-on-the-ballot intramural battle.

It's what happens when your primary becomes the de facto general election, and it's kind of amazing that the GOP has avoided this kind of battle to date.

Texas Democrats slalomed their way through such battles during their generations of dominance. It wasn't always pretty. In fact, it rarely was pretty. The intramural battles created personal and political animosities that damaged people and candidacies.

But that's the way the game is played. And a spirited campaign based on issues can bring out the best in candidates. So we are eager to see how the Texas GOP handles what looks to be a titanic high-dollar primary battle between Hutchison and Gov. Rick Perry.

Early signs foreshadow a nasty contest that will test the party's ability to re-unify after the March primary. It's something Texas Republicans never have had to do in a race anywhere approaching this level.

Barring major changes in the landscape, the GOP primary winner will start as a heavy favorite against whomever the Democrats nominate.

Sonia