Hutchison Kicks Off Bid for Texas Governor

Drama stars Rick Perry, Kay Bailey Hutchison, Ron Paul and the Tea Party

(NEWSER) - All eyes in the political world turn to Texas today, as the Lone Star State holds what should be a telling primary for the GOP. Center stage is the GOP gubernatorial race, a three-way slug-fest between current Gov. Rick Perry, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and tea partier—and momentary 9/11 truther —Debra Medina. The race is so heated, and early voting so strong, that turnout may eclipse that for the 2008 presidential primary, Politico reports. More»

Debra Medina to Beck: There are 'good arguments' that US was behind 9/11

(NEWSER) - Republican Debra Medina's campaign for Texas governor went on damage control yesterday after a disastrous Glenn Beck interview in which she refused to deny that she believes the US government was behind the 9/11 attacks. "There's some very good arguments and I think the American people have not seen all the evidence, so I've not taken a position," the candidate told Beck. More»

Perry and KBH face off; Tea Party mounts challenge in Fla.

(NEWSER) - The 2010 primaries will see the GOP repairing its identity and soul-searching among Democrats. The 10 most important races, according to Chris Cillizza of the Washington Post :

1. Texas governor, R: Rick Perry is running for an unprecedented third term, and voters seem to approve. But Kay Bailey Hutchison is a popular, crafty, and well-funded opponent.
2. Florida Senate, R: The looming battle between Gov. Charlie Crist and former state House Speaker Marco Rubio is being closely watched as a bellwether of the rift between GOP moderates and the insurgent Tea Party movement.

Will stay put to fight health care reform, cap and trade

(AP) - Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison, who is challenging Texas Gov. Rick Perry for his job, is planning to keep her US Senate seat until after the state's March gubernatorial primary. Hutchison, a Republican, plans to tell Republican women in a speech in Galveston today that she is stepping down in 2010 because she is needed in Washington to fight against Democratic proposals to limit carbon emissions and overhaul the health care system. More»

Trip to Israel is this third

(NEWSER) - On a trip to Israel this week, Texas Gov. Rick Perry compared Mexico with the Gaza Strip and said his state could learn from his hosts when it comes to security. "Just like it's important to Israelis to keep heavy security on their border with Gaza, it's important to citizens of Texas to keep out the illegal activities that are going on with drugs," he told the Jerusalem Post. More»