Senator Hutchison said she had hoped that the health-care fight would be wrapped up by the end of the year, and that she “had hoped” she’d be able to resign by the end of the year, and then revisited the question and said that she didn’t say she was going to stay until the end of the health-care fight. Another host, Robert Pratt, points out that today was the last day that Hutchison could have resigned and had the special election to replace her held on November 3, in conjunction with another election already scheduled for that date. Texas’s secretary of state, Hope Andrade, says that holding a separate election will cost Texas taxpayers up to $30 million.
Either way, it’s a win-win for Rick Perry. He didn’t want the special election to happen on November 3 because there’s a Houston city-council election on that day, too, and the additional Democratic turnout would have favored Bill White, the Democratic mayor of Houston who is running for Hutchison’s Senate seat. But he’ll be sure to hit Hutchison for imposing (up to) $30 million in unnecessary costs on Texas taxpayers.
It should be noted that neither of those radio guys is a KBH fan. And Jennifer Baker, Hutchison’s spokesman, says that the senator unequivocally is running for governor and dismisses the speculation as “Perry-generated rumors.” She also says that the $30 million election cost estimate is exaggerated—a worst-case scenario. “Once the senator resigns, it will be in the governor’s hands,” she says. “He will have the opportunity to do the fiscally responsible thing. But we expect him, as usual, to do whatever is in his own best political interests.”
Personally, I think they're making a little more of what Hutchison said than is entirely justified, but she did not sound terribly sure of herself.
Should U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison resign her seat today?
Yes; it saves taxpayers up to $30 million.26% (312 votes)Yes; she needs to focus on running for governor.5% (62 votes)No; she can do both and the cost isn't relevant.7% (88 votes)No; I'm worried the seat would be won by a Democrat.12% (143 votes)No; she should stay in the Senate and not even run for governor.46% (563 votes)I'm undecided.4% (43 votes)Total votes: 1211
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Hey now, campaign characters. Be nice. I know a lot of you on both sides, so I don't want any overly foul language, personal attacks on anyone other than the candidates themselves, or other party fouls. I will moderate the heck out of you if you start breaking the bounds of civility.