Even before he announced he would get into the race, Tom Leppert was advised here to save his money rather than run for Kay Bailey Hutchison’s U.S. Senate seat. The former Dallas mayor didn’t much like the suggestion, insisting that he is an “analytical” type who sees a “clear path to victory.” More recently his allies have floated the idea that Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst, the big dog in any potential Senate scrap, may have decided not to run for the GOP nomination. If that were true it would give Leppert a better shot at the nod but hardly a clear path, as Ted Cruz has been generating much more positive buzz recently as the Tea Party fave.
However, any slim hope by Dewhurst’s rivals that the lite guv would not run for Hutchison’s seat will be dashed later this month, according to the Politico web site via the DMN. Politico says Dewhurst has selected a campaign manager and is very likely to toss his hat into the ring. (Which, in retrospect, may be why the Williams twins–Roger and Michael–recently fled the Senate race to enter the House race in Parker, Tarrant and Wise counties instead.) We got the idea that Dewhurst would leap into the Senate fray when he spoke at D last month and now, if Politico is to be believed, it seems all but certain. Sorry, Mr. Mayor, but we did try to warn you.
