Free Republic

Less than a year ago, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison was the most popular elected official in Texas and the odds-on favorite to be the next governor of Texas. Some polls showed her leading the incumbent, Rick Perry, by more than 20 points. What Hutchison didn't realize this time a year ago was that her fate may well have been sealed by Tax Day, April 15, 2009, when Perry spoke at tea party rallies in Houston, Dallas and Austin and suggested — merely suggested — that Texas might have reason to secede from the union. He never mentioned the word...

AUSTIN, Texas – Riding a wave of growing anti-Washington anger, Texas Gov. Rick Perry easily dispatched Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and a challenger backed by some in the tea party movement Tuesday to once again become the Republican nominee for the state's top office. Speaking shortly after Hutchison called him to concede, Perry continued the attack on the nation's capital that powered him past the state's senior senator, slamming Washington on spending, job losses, the heath care debate and for "trying to impose education standards" on Texas. "From Driftwood, Texas, to Washington, D.C., we are sending you a message tonight:...

HOUSTON — U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison rode a quarter horse with a heavy winter coat down the middle of Texas Avenue on Saturday morning, diligently waving to the thousands of Houston-area families that lined each side of the street. Her appearance in the annual parade preceding the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo was like a number of Hutchison's campaign appearances on the final weekend before she tries to unseat Gov. Rick Perry in Tuesday's Republican primary: She met — or at least waved to —Texans where they were, whether they were eating, shopping or watching the horses parade...

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry has bragged this week about making fundraising history by bringing in a record $1.3 million in one day, intimating that it came from tapping grassroots support. It turns out that the money mostly came from those who own the field. Only 43 donors provided the first $1 million, and the total $1.28 million was netted from just 123 givers, including lobbyists and long-time political players, reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission showed Friday. On Thursday, Perry announced the fundraising total in a press release, saying the "Money Cannon" had included "numerous Texans donating...

Despite the countless press releases, Twitter posts and television spots that have flooded the landscape for more than a year, five critical sound bites have defined this election and put Perry in strong position to retain his party's nomination: • "I will be looking at what is best for Texas," Hutchison told Texas Monthly in October 2007 when asked whether she would resign her Senate post to run for governor. Her indecision about resignation, still not resolved to many Republicans' satisfaction, hindered Hutchison's message and left many wishing she had stayed put.• "I could not give a blank check...

Regardless, Gov. Rick Perry has fared relatively well, perhaps because of his anti-Washington rhetoric and his careful immigration stance, a recent poll indicates. It shows more than half of Texas Hispanics call themselves conservative, and a surprising 23 percent say they might participate in Tuesday's GOP primary. Among those, Perry leads Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison by 2 to 1, according to the poll, commissioned by an Austin consultant for a national group of Hispanic legislative leaders... Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, said the poll hints at a little-noticed facet of Perry's political persona: He doesn't frighten Hispanics...

This editorial board’s No. 1 priority is improving the state of higher education in Texas. The governor is a powerful force in determining the direction of higher education in Texas: The governor alone appoints each member of the UT System Board of Regents and of all university boards in Texas, and the regents decide nearly everything else. For that reason, we suggest that students vote in the Republican primary, a race that will have more bearing on higher-education policy than any other. For those committed to other races — or perhaps unable to bring themselves to cast a ballot in...

Gov. Rick Perry heads into the start of early voting Tuesday with a comfortable lead over his two Republican primary challengers, but he could be in for a tough November fight against the Democratic nominee, a poll commissioned by the Austin American-Statesman and other Texas newspapers shows. Perry has the support of 45 percent of likely Republican primary voters, while 29 percent back U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and 17 percent support Wharton activist Debra Medina. Just 8 percent are undecided. The telephone survey was conducted Feb. 2-10, before Medina said important questions had been raised about whether the...

Medina now leads Hutchison among conservatives WHARTON, TX – In the latest poll of likely Republican primary voters from February 4th to 7th, the North Carolina-based Public Policy Polling (PPP) report shows Debra Medina is coming on strong. According to the PPP report, although Perry is at 39% to 28% for Kay Bailey Hutchison, Debra Medina is now at a whopping 24%! There are major splits within the race along ideological lines according to the poll results. Perry is at 42% with conservatives, and Medina is now outpolling Hutchison with conservatives by a 25-23 margin.

Hutchison brings grown-up approach to working on behalf of Texans and gets endorsement in GOP race Kay Bailey Hutchison might not be the flashiest or the most beloved politician Texas has ever produced, but it's a mistake to discount or denigrate her accomplishments and record. As an institution, we have disagreed with the senator on various issues, but we recognize her effectiveness. We also appreciate the fact that she acts like an adult, talks like an adult and treats Texans like adults. No, Hutchison is not the flashiest politician in the race, but she is nonetheless the best choice...

AUSTIN — Gov. Rick Perry in his unprecedented nine years in office proved time and again that he is a team player: team Republican. Perry's actions and policies as governor — from tort reform to congressional redistricting to championing an amendment banning gay marriage — made him anathema to Democrats. But his approval rating among self-identified Republicans in public opinion surveys remains above 70 percent........ “You can easily summarize Perry's record by saying: Most Texans don't expect much from their state government, and that's what he's given them,” Jillson said.........Redistricting Victory It was the seminal year of his governorship....

Incumbent Rick Perry's lead over Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison has grown a little bigger in the race for this year's Republican gubernatorial nomination in Texas. Tea Party activist Debra Medina also has gained ground, and her gains appear to come at the expense of Hutchison. The latest Rasmussen Reports survey of likely Republican Primary voters in Texas finds Perry leading Hutchison 44% to 29%, with Medina at 16%. Medina has gained four points since the previous survey while Hutchison has lost four points. Perry's support is little changed from a month ago. Medina, the owner of a medical consulting firm,...

Incumbent Rick Perry's lead over Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison has grown a little bigger in the race for this year's Republican gubernatorial nomination in Texas. Tea Party activist Debra Medina also has gained ground, and her gains appear to come at the expense of Hutchison. The latest Rasmussen Reports survey of likely Republican Primary voters in Texas finds Perry leading Hutchison 44% to 29%, with Medina at 16%. Medina has gained four points since the previous survey while Hutchison has lost four points. Perry's support is little changed from a month ago.

"DALLAS (AP) — U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and political activist Debra Medina ganged up on front-running Gov. Rick Perry on Friday in the final televised debate before the March 2 Republican primary." Medina won the online vote asking who won the debate with 97% of the vote.

AUSTIN — As the Republican candidates for governor prepare for what likely is their last debate tonight on statewide television, the first debate between Democrats Bill White and Farouk Shami has been set for Feb. 8 in Fort Worth.

The Republican candidates will meet for their second and likely final televised debate tonight (at least before the runoff). Sponsored by the Dallas Morning News and television stations owned by the Belo Corp., it can be seen live here in Austin at 7 p.m. on KVUE. Debra Medina tells the Wall Street Journal this morning that Gov. Rick Perry acted like a “jumpy, fidgety frat boy” in the first debate. Regardless of whether that was an apt description, expect a more serious, focused Perry tonight who is likely to hammer away at both Hutchison and Medina. He will talk...

DALLAS—An obscure candidate with backing from the "tea party" movement threatens to deny a decisive victory to either Texas Gov. Rick Perry or Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in the battle for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in Texas. Little-known Debra Medina made a splash two weeks ago in a televised debate. She criticized the governor for "painting a rosy picture that doesn't exist" about the Texas economy and said her rivals' "squabbling isn't getting us anywhere." Mrs. Medina "stole the show," said Harvey Kronberg, longtime editor of the Quorum Report newsletter in Austin. On Friday night, Mrs. Medina will try to...

Dick Armey campaigned with Kay Bailey Hutchison in Brownwood, Lubbock and Amarillo. The former Majority Leader, who represented Texas' 26th district, was a leading figure in the 1994 Republican Revolution and the Contract with America. He currently serves as the Chairman of FreedomWorks and is a leader in the TEA Party movement.

Debra Medina against all odds is quickly becoming a viable candidate the implications are enormous. Scott Brown's shocking victory is a mixed blessing for the cause of freedom. On one hand it has put a major roadblock in the path towards Obama Care. On the other hand Scott Brown is a big government Republican. So far there are no signs that true reform is taking place in the GOP. The people in control of the party during the worst two consecutive election cycle defeats in GOP history are still in control of the leadership nationally. This is why a Debra...

Here's a snippet listing the top seven donors to each.... See the complete list at the link.... Top Givers to Hutchison H. Ross Perot, Dallas computer executive $110,000 William Greehey, San Antonio energy executive $100,000 Sid Bass, Fort Worth oilman $100,000 Edward Bass, Fort Worth venture capitalist $100,000 Robert and Martha Gillikin, Dallas $100,000 Peter and Edith O'Doinnell, Dallas $100,000 Barry Andrews, Dallas beer distributor $100,000 Top Contributors to Perry Bob Perry, Houston homebuilder, $200,000 T. Boone Pickens, Dallas oilman $100,000 Curtis Mewbourne, Tyler oilman $100,000 Blackridge Associates, Austin lobbyists $55,000 J. Bass, Dallas, Dallas investment adviser $50,000 Ray...