Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst formally launched his campaign for the U.S. Senate on Tuesday, promising a run that would be “straightforward, unapologetically conservative and as serious as the problems we face.”
Dewhurst informed supporters of his long-
expected entry into the race with an email and nearly four-minute Web video. He enters a crowded field of Republican candidates who hope to replace retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison next year.
Dewhurst is a billionaire and has proven that he can run and win statewide contests in Texas, which can be a challenging state to run in due to its size, its five or six (depending on how you count) major media markets and slew of mid-sized markets, and its diversity. He’ll be formidable, and may even jump to the favorite slot due to his high name recognition alone. And, he speaks Spanish fluently. I’ve seen him handle interviews with Spanish-speaking media on the fly; he’s a pro. He will probably struggle with the base and Tea Party set, though, as he is seen as more moderate than former solicitor general and fellow Senate candidate Ted Cruz, who won Sen. Jim DeMint’s endorsement this week.
With Gov. Perry increasingly likely to enter the presidential race, Texas politics are getting an overdue shakeup.
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