How permanent and lasting will the damage to Kay be?

Kay was very gracious in defeat to Rick and has by all accounts been a decent team player since losing badly in March... although most Texans have heard almost nothing from her since March 2...

The question arises... how lasting will the damage done by Rick and his peeps be for Kay when she tries to run again in 2012?

You hadn't heard that? Kay is still making up her mind about it which probably means she is running (link).

The Public Policy Polling outfit currently has Kay at plus 3 (link). Excerpt follows...

If you think there are a lot of competitive Senate races this year just wait for 2012. We've found 9 of the 16 folks we've polled since October who are up for reelection next year with negative approval ratings.

It might be easier to start with the list of who's doing alright- the folks in positive territory in order of their net approval are Olympia Snowe (+15), Tom Carper (+13), Jeff Bingaman (+12), Herb Kohl (+10), Kay Bailey Hutchison (+3), and Jim Webb (+2)

Even within those folks who are doing comparatively well there's the potential for some competitiveness next time. Snowe's popular because Democrats like her and could have difficulty winning another Republican primary. Hutchison just showed she's capable of getting trounced in a primary and that could embolden a more conservative challenger to her, although it's doubtful such a candidate would be remotely on par with Rick Perry.

The first commenter there put it pretty well...

brian72975 said...

KBH will get absolutely hammered from both sides for credibility issues. She said she'd quit the Senate to campaign for Governor. Then she said, no, I'll quit after the campaign. Then she lost and said, no, I'll quit in 2012. Guess what -- wrong again.

JUNE 4, 2010 1:14 PM

I think Kay would be vulnerable, but not doomed. I could see Debra Medina running against her again... plus all the other candidates who are ready for the musical chairs to fall... the game plan for how to beat Kay is out there. I don't think Kay will be able to do much to rehab her image other than hope time heals the wounds... that earmark queen song is still burned into my mind... maybe if she takes up some conservative causes over the next two years, cuts out the pork, and makes nice with Rick... then we'll see...

I have heard some things that point to Kay helping Rick behind the scenes, but she has to swallow her pride, Rick has to be gracious, and they have to make up for the good of the state. It is probably a good first step, whatever it is they have planned at the convention this weekend (link). Excerpt follows...

Word is that Texas' favorite political frenemies, Hutchison and Perry, will be together this week for the first time since their fractious primary election. The chill is gone ... or at least the political necessity has arrived of presenting a united Republican Party if the GOP hopes to win big in the fall. The governor and senator are expected to appear together at the Texas Federation of Republican Women breakfast at the state Republican Convention in Dallas.

This ought to be interesting... but Rick and Kay... especially Kay... both need to do more to show unity in 2010 at least.