If you live in Texas, you know who Kay Bailey Hutchison is. If you don't live in Texas, she's a Republican U.S. Senator from our state who has served in Congress, well, for God knows how long. On Friday, I caught up with her at the LBJ Museum and Library, where a plaza and the library were being given in Lady Bird Johnson's namesake. Sen. Hutchison gave some remarks, but then the media got the chance to talk with her to ask about a Rasmussen Poll out Friday, which reported she was 11 points behind her main Republican Rival, Gov. Rick Perry of Texas. (Previously, the same poll had Sen. Hutchison leading Gov. Perry by two points, back in September.)
Being able to speak to politicians, especially of this magnitude, is exciting. What's interesting about Sen. Hutchison is that when we spoke with her Friday morning, she had said she wasn't sure
what she would do in regards to giving up her senate seat while running for governor. Later that day, her camp released a statement which said she would remain in the senate while still running for governor. Interesting.
Meantime, Gov. Rick Perry is living large and doesn't seem to be sweating it when it comes to his campaign. I'm sure that's his smooth political persona - calm and collected.
We also got the chance to speak with Mr. Perry Friday, after he finished with remarks to a conference room full of people having lunch. He said he wants to keep Texas on the track it's on while trying to make it known Perry does not like President Obama's health care plan; he says most Texans don't like it either. Of Sen. Hutchison, he says he wants her to stay exactly where voters put her and make her vote count in the senate.
We'll see where the election takes us. Political analyst and Texas Tribune Editor in Chief Ross Ramsey told me the polls don't matter right now, but a politician never wants to lag in the numbers. We should begin to see the real campaigning to begin after the holidays. Who wants to hear bickering over Thanksgiving dinner, anyway?
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