Now that Rick Perry and David Dewhurst have decided they really want to be in that place they profess to hate so much, Washington, DC, there are a bunch of politicians behind them hoping to move up. Ross Ramsey wonders, what happens if Perry and Dewhurst lose?
What if Perry loses the Republican primary for president and comes home to finish his term? What if he wins the nomination and loses the general election? And what about Dewhurst? What if he loses and comes back to run the State Senate through the Legislature’s 2013 regular session?
They’d both be kind of cranky, don’t you think?
And what about all of those other state officials who’ve been thinking excitedly about what the near future might hold? If the governor and lieutenant governor lose their races, state senators wouldn’t be electing one of their own to handle the rest of Dewhurst’s term or, possibly, Perry’s. The statewide officeholders looking hard at campaigns for 2014 would have to tap the brakes, waiting to see what Dewhurst and Perry do.
The assumption is that Perry would not run for another term, but Texas pols have fallen for that one before. Kay Bailey Hutchison got talked out of a 2006 run for governor by supporters who told her they would back her in 2010 if she’d stay out of the incumbent’s way that year. She did, but Perry surprised her and a lot of other people when he decided to run again in 2010.
If he fails to win the presidency, he probably would not seek reelection as governor again in 2014, but you never know. And what about Dewhurst? The prevailing presumption is that Attorney General Greg Abbott will run for governor in 2014, but what about Dewhurst? If the lieutenant governor falls short in a United States Senate bid in 2012, he’ll still be in Texas. Would he run for re-election, or challenge Abbott and others for Perry’s seat?
First and foremost, there’d be no small amount of grim satisfaction taken by Perry and Dewhurst’s opponents. I don’t want to get ahead of myself, because there is way too much game left to be played, but there are an awful lot of people who’d like to see Rick Perry fall on his face. Not all of those folks are Democrats, either, not by a long shot. When you ask the “what happens if they lose” question, you’re really asking how do they handle the schadenfreude? Avoid it, or return fire?
As for the question of 2014, I would not assume that anyone will get out of Perry or Dewhurst’s way any more, especially after they’ve lost a race. Why would they, especially after having their campaigns in gear for over a year? They’ve been waiting a long time for this opportunity. How appealing is the idea of waiting till 2018 going to sound? Better to go down swinging than tuck tail between legs and go back to the same boring job they’ve been marking time in. I mean, it’s not like Todd Staples wants to be Ag Commissioner, or Susan Combs wants to be Comptroller. If they lose, they get to become high-priced lobbyists. Where’s the downside?
Perhaps this would be easier if Rick Perry resigned to run for President. But what are the odds of that happening? Rick Perry does what’s best for Rick Perry; everything else is at best a side consideration. If the folks he and Dewhurst are holding back want to change their station, it’s up to them. Either make your decision based on what you want to do, or live the rest of your life waiting for someone else to hand you an opportunity.