Experts have been scratching their heads for awhile over Kay Bailey Hutchison’s lackluster run for the GOP gubernatorial nomination. But according to one Dallas political consultant who’s acquainted with the situation–and has no dog in the fight–the senator’s primary campaign has been “a sinking ship” for six months, with once-enthusiastic advisers exiting. The reason, this consultant says: Hutchison is “increasingly difficult to work for” and, more importantly, refuses to listen to advice.
One case in point is her first TV ad, where Kay explained why she would stay in the Senate while running for the nomination, the consultant says. Although pollsters told her nobody in the state cared about that issue, Hutchison said, “Your polls are wrong”–and the kickoff ad fell flat.
Now even some conservative state lawmakers who’d very quietly supported the senator behind the scenes have said, “We’re done,” the consultant says.
Jennifer Baker, communications director for the Hutchison campaign, says all of these charges are false–and typical of rumormongering by the Rick Perry camp. (Our source, as I mentioned, is not working for any of the gubernatorial candidates.)
Then Baker sent me a link to the latest hot rumor: that staffers from the Perry campaign are leaving to work for Debra Medina.
Now, this is getting fun.
