...You gotta abandon your responsibilities?

Lately, I've been doing some extra research on the Kay Bailey Hutchison campaign, since I'm in the process of writing a feature article on the subject. I have to say I think she's doing an excellent job of creating a good public image and raising up grassroots support (especially among college students) early in the game. That's why I was a bit surprised when I came across Jason Embry's blog in the Austin American-Statesman, which questions Hutchison's commitment to her campaign. But he's not the only one.

There certainly are reasons for questioning Kay Bailey Hutchinson's dedication to her bid for governor of Texas. She still hasn't stepped down from her Senate seat, claiming she wants to stay to fight the healthcare reform bill. This continued absence from Texas could hurt her, since she has to be in Washington at least a few days each week. A recent poll, which shows Rick Perry leading by 12 percent, suggests Hutchison definitely has some work to do on the homefront.

She's doing great in many respects, gaining the coveted endorsement of the Texas Farm Bureau, which supported Perry last election. She has the most visible presence at my university of any gubernatorial candidate, with her student group Longhorns for Kay already hosting supportive networking events and passing out bumper stickers. But apparently, though her supporters are pulling their weight, she seems to talk more about Washington than Texas when she visits.

In Embry's blog, he claims that Hutchison "seems to be doing little herself to forcefully drive a message about the governor’s race" and "is not using many of those days [in Texas] to take the fight right to Gov. Rick Perry." That may all be true, but I believe that's because she has her priorities in order, not because she doesn't care about the governor's race or because she's a Washington insider. She's doing a noble thing by still performing her responsibilities as a U.S. Senator to the best of her abilities, putting current obligations ahead of her own ambitions to be governor. Plus, it's not as though national issues aren't relevant to Texans. We're just as concerned about healthcare as the next American, and any national issue as big as healthcare reform would affect the state even more than specifically "state issues."

Even if she can't come to Texas in person much, she still effectively uses TV to get her messages out. Here is an interview with her about the tragic Fort Hood shootings.



The interview was conducted just 24 hours after the shootings had occurred, and her extensive knowledge on the subject shows that she is a competent advocate for Texas, even if her responsibilities dictate that she often must be present in Washington both physically and mentally. Hutchison's commitment to the governor's race and to Texas shouldn't be questioned simply because she also has national responsibilities. Let's just hope voters will feel the same way.