Today’s installment of campaign-related news items that wouldn’t generate a post of their own, but may be of interest to political observers:
* Surprising the political establishment in DC and Texas, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) announced late last week that she will run for a third term and bypass the Texas gubernatorial race. Most believed that Hutchison, who promised voters 11 years ago that she would not serve more than two terms, would challenge incumbent Gov. Rick Perry (R) in a Republican primary. Hutchison remains one of the state’s most popular figures and is already heavily favored to win re-election, despite breaking her term-limits pledge.
* Gov. Perry may be delighted that he won’t face Hutchison next year, but the news is not all good for the Texas governor. Carole Keeton Strayhorn, the fast-talking state comptroller who makes sport of chastising Perry, made her intentions official over the weekend, announcing that she will challenge the governor in next year’s GOP primary. “Now is time to replace a do-nothin’ drugstore cowboy with one tough grandma,” Strayhorn, 65, told a cheering crowd.
* Sen. Joseph Biden (D-Del.) announced yesterday that he intends to run for president in 2008. Appearing on CBS’ Face the Nation, Biden said, “My intention, as I sit here now, is, as I’ve proceeded since last November as if I were going to run. I’m quite frankly going out, seeing whether I can gather the kind of support.” He added, “If, in fact, I think that I have a clear shot at winning the nomination by this November or December, then I’m going to seek the nomination.” (C&L has the video of Biden’s remarks.)
* California state Controller Steve Westly (D) officially launched his campaign for governor over the weekend, using the Internet to kick things off. The former Silicon Valley executive announced his candidacy during an online chat and conference call with supporters, pledging to create an innovative government to return prosperity to the state.
* The national Republican Party believes New Jersey’s gubernatorial race is competitive enough to invest heavily in Doug Forrester this year. RNC spokesman Danny Diaz said the committee is going to work closely with the Forrester campaign to ensure they have the resources to “get the message out and mobilize their vote.” Sen. Jon Corzine’s campaign welcomed the development. “Any help Doug Forrester gets from George Bush and the national Republican Party comes tainted with Forrester’s endorsing Social Security privatization and the raiding of the trust fund to give tax breaks to the wealthy, as well as the robbing from senior citizens of one of the best prescription drug assistance programs in the country,” said Ivette Mendez, Corzine’s campaign spokeswoman.
* With Rep. Bob Beauprez (R-Colo.) running for governor, Republican officials in the state are coalescing around state Higher Education Commission Chairman Rick O’Donnell to replace fill the vacancy. Although O’Donnell has yet to open his headquarters, launch a website or assemble a full-fledged campaign team, he has raised $100,000 and been tagged the only serious candidate by party officials in Denver.