U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison won't seek re-election in 2012

[brooklynite]

Source: Dallas Morning News

Kay Bailey Hutchison will not run for re-election to the U.S. Senate.

In a letter to supporters, Hutchison said she enjoyed serving Texas.

"I am announcing today that I will not be a candidate for re-election in 2012," she wrote to supporters. "That should give the people of Texas ample time to consider who my successor will be."

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/011411dntexhutchison.ae8333f3.html

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I expect Bill White will consider running again, but I think this is still going to be a heavy lift for Democrats to pick up.

[Ian David]

1. ...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=np6vAuS0KNs&feature=related

[Laelth]

2. Good. n/t

-Laelth

[Kolesar]

3. Won't be that same without you

[Renew Deal]

4. What are the pickup possibilities on this one?

Better than 0?

[jobycom]

9. About 99% if you are to the right of Perry.

The remaining one percent decreases as you move from Perry to the left.

But let's give it our best shot. The thing about not having an incumbent is you never know what idiot will get the nomination in the primary. In 90, the last time a Dem won statewide, we got Super Woman (Ann Richards) against Bozo the Clown (Clayton Williams), and despite a poll showing Richards trailing by double digits, Clayton's rape jokes and idiotic statements and on-camera meltdowns resulted in Richards winning. Barely. In fact, she won statewide by the same number of votes she won by in Austin, IIRC, leading to Austin's claim that we single-handedly elected her. (I say we, but I lived in Dallas then, so I get no credit).

You never know, and we need to dance like nobody's watching on this one, but that's how I see our chances. Come election time I'll switch to optimism mode, though. :)

[LiberalFighter]

22. You are absolutely right. Give it your best shot.

One of the things that you can do is make sure to attend events such as county and district Democratic meetings. Especially if possible candidates make an appearance. Also talk to those county and district officers to find out what is happening and let them know who you consider to be a good candidate.

The key is make sure there is a well qualified good candidate so the party isn't left in the hole without in the event the other side select a candidate with excess baggage that drags their campaign down the hole.

[valerief]

5. Ah, running for prez? nt

[Javaman]

11. Never happen, waaaaaaay too much baggage. nt

[elleng]

12. Governor?

[Freddie Stubbs]

13. I think that it is a safe bet that she is finished with elected office

[jobycom]

15. Nah, she lost the primary for governor, and polls show she'll lose the primary for Senator, too.

She shot at the king and missed, and now she's taking the gentleman's exit, so to speak. Plus, she's 67, and she'd be almost 70 before the presidential election. Not really too old, but elections have been trending younger lately. When people want change, they usually go younger.

[GreenStormCloud]

23. No, retirement. N/T

[ceile]

6. Seems like I've heard that before....

Let's hope she keeps her word this time.

[jobycom]

7. Don't celebrate. She's fairly moderate compared to Texas right now.

She lost in the primaries for governor to a man so right-wing (at least publicly) that he often seemed to be testing the limits of his most extreme supporters. Polls were showing she would lose in the primaries for the senate, too. There is no more liberal option coming. She will yield to someone much further right than she is.

We have some say in that. The primary could be a free-for-all resulting in a another Clayton Williams (Texans will understand that one), which could maybe give our candidate a chance. I have doubts--I think Clayton Williams with his rape jokes and caught-on-camera plots would still win against any Democrat these days. Texas has gone Pavlovian in the voter's booth. The sight of an (R) beside a name makes too many Texas drool and push a button, and (D) makes them turn away, no matter what happens in the campaign. But we can change that, maybe, with the right candidate and campaign, the right strategy, and a bad Republican nominee.

But odds are anyone to the left of Glenn Beck is going to miss Hutchison when she's gone.

And this isn't Texas bashing--I'm a Texan, and I love the state. It's just a brutal assessment of the situation once you get out of the major cities around here. Democrats can do okay in Dallas and Houston, and better than okay in San Antonio and El Paso, and we positively kick ass in Austin. I don't know about Beaumont. But in all the mid-size towns and the rural areas, it's "Night of the Living Brain Dead Voters." Not everyone, of course. Just the majority.

[PDittie]

18. Jefferson County turned red last November

Was once the most reliably Democratic county in the state behind Travis, El Paso, and those in the Valley.

My feeling is White won't go. He got smeared pretty badly by Perry -- who did the same thing to Hutchison in their primary -- and I don't think that's the job he wants anyway. John Sharp is all in, though, and though he'll be the Bluest Dog in the Senate if he pulls it off, he's the best chance Dems have in 2012.

Lots of things can happen to turn in our favor between now and '12: TeaBagger fatigue, Obama on the ballot, the wretched outcome of the current legislative session, yadda yadda. Our fortunes overall are no more gloomy than the GOP's two years ago, before the rise of the TP.

[DemoTex]

8. “Better the Devil you know than the Devil you don't”

Assuming that this seat stays in GOP hands, which it almost certainly will, I'd rather have Kay Bailey Hutchison - former UT cheerleader - than any other Texas GOPer that comes to mind.


A 1962 yearbook photo shows the former Kay Bailey while she was a cheerleader at the University of Texas

[jobycom]

14. Once voted Congressmember "Least likely to become a rocket scientist."

Okay, I think that was a joke in an editorial, but it was still my favorite comment about her.

She really has been a moderating force in Texas politics. Perry used to be, but he's moved way to the right, at least in words and symbolic gestures (in reality he's a little more moderate). I fear the possibility that Perry will become the center.

Now I'm going to stop with the negative comments on this thread. :( Rough day, very rough week. I'm not my normal optimistic self.

[No Elephants]

21. Good jump. Harder than it may look.

[Javaman]

10. Glory be!

one half wit down, one to go.

Now let all my fellow Texas try and, at least, make this a purple state.

[creon]

16. Not surprised

I did not expect her to run for re election.

TX is a one party state - Democrats do well in the big cities. Out in the country, it is pure GOP. Most just automatically vote Republican, without any thought on the matter. It will be very difficult for a Democrat to win this seat.

Bill White seems to be the most likely Democrat to run.

[derby378]

17. John Sharp in 2012?

He may be too conservative for many on DU, but he might be the Democrats' best chance for taking the seat in 2012. All I know is he was just itching to run for KBH's seat in 2010, hoping she'd beat Perry in the GOP gubernatorial primary.

[UTUSN]

19. She's fleeing being chased out by the TeaBaggers after her losing to Goodhair. n/t

[Ter]

20. Hello Senator Deborah Medina

A truther in the Senate? You betcha!

[Ter]

24. The rumor is Ron Paul may run for it now

http://www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/burkablog/