It's on?
Senator Hutchison filed the paperwork today to form an exploratory comittee to run for governor. In doing so, she's transferring $1 million dollars (cue Dr. Evil) from her federal Senate account to the gubernatorial account. She also unveiled Texans for Kay, which is in blog form.
Doing so, allows KBH to raise unlimited amounts of money from individual donors, including during the upcoming legislative session. That $1m is just the beginning.
Paragraphs five and six are the ones that signal what she plans to run on:
Texans deserve a Governor who, in the context of sound budgetary policies and low taxes, works for quality schools and universities, access to health care for our families, communities safe from crime and drugs, protection of private property rights, safe transportation and a government that listens and responds to them.There's too much bitterness, too much anger, too little trust, too little consensus and too much infighting. And the tone comes from the top. Texans are looking for leadership and results.
That's near the end of the press release, as there are only 7 paragraphs total. Frankly, I wouldn't have waited until the end of the press release to talk about issues. Candidates who can't articulate why they are running are at a disadvantage with voters. See, eg, John McCain 2008. Moreover, I'd have wanted to get my reasons for running into the soundbite. Waiting until the end of your first formal press release to talk vaguely about issues might lend credence to the notion that running for governor is the valediction of a career rather than about an explicit agenda for Texas. It doesn't help that she's been rumored for over 6 years to be running for governor.
I mention the above because I think it's illustrative of a potential pitfall: while Senator Hutchison is widely liked, she isn't widely loved. If fact, I know no one who feels any great passion about her, either for or against. She's not tied to any issue, for better or for worse. I bet the Perry team is thinking about this as we speak.
Full press release pasted below the jump:
For Immediate Release Media Contact: Todd Olsen
Statement by Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison
Today, I am filing an exploratory committee so I can begin the process of organizing a campaign for Governor of Texas. I am not yet a candidate, but Texas law requires this first, important step before an announcement can be made.
I am transferring $1 million from my Federal account to this new state exploratory committee and will take further steps as they become appropriate.
Right now, there are a lot of Texans -- friends, community and business leaders, Republicans, Democrats, Independents and people who've never been in politics -- that I want to talk to before becoming a formal candidate.
While Texas is faring somewhat better economically than many other states, a positive future is not guaranteed. It will take leaders who look ahead to meet the economic and budgetary challenges that are coming.
Texans deserve a Governor who, in the context of sound budgetary policies and low taxes, works for quality schools and universities, access to health care for our families, communities safe from crime and drugs, protection of private property rights, safe transportation and a government that listens and responds to them.
There's too much bitterness, too much anger, too little trust, too little consensus and too much infighting. And the tone comes from the top. Texans are looking for leadership and results.
I am humbled by the number of hard working Texans who have asked me to run for Governor in our state that I love so dearly. And I am honored to serve Texas in the United State Senate, protecting our state’s interests and standing for our values and vision. Texans understand I put Texas first and I will continue to do so while I explore and prepare for a race for Governor of Texas.
Posted by Evan @ 12/05/08 12:09 AM
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