Common Sense

Apparently word is that John Sharp decided to forego a gubernatorial bid in order to run for John Cornyn’s Senate seat in 2008. According to Capitol Hill Insider:

The Democrats’ nominee - whoever that might be - in a 2008 U.S. Senate race would find themselves at a major funding disadvantage at the start of a race against Cornyn. A former Texas attorney general and state Supreme Court judge from San Antonio, Cornyn has raised more than $5 million since his election to the upper chamber of Congress and had $2.8 million still in the bank at the end of September.

Having served as a state senator, Texas Railroad commissioner and comptroller for eight years before two unsuccessful races for lieutenant governor, Sharp is a well-known political commodity who would have millions of dollars worth of name identification already built up if he decides to enter the picture for a U.S. Senate showdown in 2008. Sharp presumably would not need to raise as much money as some potential candidates would for a viable Senate campaign as a result.

But Sharp, who’s never had trouble raising cash for a political race, would still need a substantial war chest if he hoped to be competitive with Cornyn. Sharp’s fundraising abilities with business interests might have improved in light of his role as the Texas Tax Reform Commission chair - a temporary post that Perry offered him despite a long running feud that was fueled when the two former Texas Aggies clashed in the 1998 lieutenant governor’s race. Perry edged Sharp that year - and Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst beat the former comptroller in 2002.

Everyone going into ‘06 wondered aloud when John Sharp would swoop in and run to save, but, to be honest, I’m not enthusiastic about him running any race. He instills about as much confidence as Bob Shrum does when it comes to Democratic politics. Big name, famous races… and not enough in the win column.

Whatever happens for the race, I’m not optimistic at the moment. That might be because I’m in a bad mood or because Cornyn already has several million in the bank. Unless I see a lot of campaign commercials about box turtles, I’m about as hopeful as I was about BAR’s race.