The Texas Tribune stirs up a persistent rumor that likely won’t go away till after the filing deadline. Or, you know, proves to be true. The rumor is that Bill White is contemplating a jump into the Governor’s race.
The logic of that is that Hutchison’s decision to quit has been delayed to the point where it makes sense to look for other opportunities, and that the Democrats already in the race for governor have failed to lock down the sort of support — in terms of money or people — that it takes to win a statewide race.
White’s available. There’s a vacuum. Badabing, badaboom.
White advisor Michael Moore said Saturday evening it ain’t so. “He’s running for Senate,” he emailed.
White spokeswoman Katy Bacon followed with a more complete version: “Thanks for getting in touch. No, there’s nothing to the rumor. Bill’s running for Senate, period. Not going to switch.”
I’m hardly an objective observer of this, as I thought and hoped from the beginning that he’d run for Governor. As a charter member of the “I Don’t Believe KBH Will Actually Resign” club, the logic of this is irresistible to me. And let’s be honest, the odds of KBH being the Republican nominee for Governor, which was one reason why he chose the Senate race, aren’t as good as they once were. I feel confident Bill White has a plan, and that he’ll stick to it. Beyond that, we’ll just have to see.
I will say this: If as the story suggests this latest flareup of that rumor came from the Rick Perry camp as a bank shot against KBH, they ought to be careful what they wish for. If Bill White runs for Governor, Bill White will become Governor. I believe he can win the Senate race too, if that is where he runs, and I’ll be happy to support him in either case. But Rick Perry better hope these rumors really are just that. BOR has more.
I think people need to read this carefully: Bill White is running for U.S. Senate.
Most of you know I’ve worked for the Mayor since 2003. I’m not sure who has been quoted saying what and whatever rumor mill is out there. But I know for a fact they don’t work with us.
So let me be very plain, very simple, and at this point, repetitive: Bill White is running for U.S. Senate. If you worked for him, you wouldn’t question it at all. If you don’t, the Texans and Cougars gave you more than enough to speculate about this weekend.
And I still love Kris Brown, just bad luck.
What is he going to run for if there’s not a Senate seat to run for?