12.09.08
Burka ponders a Sharp run for Senate
Texas Monthly senior executive editor Paul Burka sums up John Sharp’s political career deftly. “I regard Sharp as a first-rate public servant who, to his misfortune, doesn’t run very good races,” Burka writes. “Sharp has always seemed to be off in his timing.” Burka’s never been one to underestimate his prominence among Texas’ chattering class. However, he has been accurate more than most. Recently, he has painted a pretty bleak picture for Democratic chances in the near term. For example, he was spot on when he predicted Democrats would net three Texas House seats in the 2008 election. He predicts Craddick will strongarm his way back to the Speaker’s chair. He said Texas Democrats have peaked and won’t make further gains in House in 2010. And now, he’s shooting down the first Democrat to announce an intention to run for United States Senate in 2012, or likely sooner, when Kay Bailey Hutchison resigns her seat to run for Governor in 2010.
Burka’s one of those pundits who enrages you because he places his bets on the status quo, and so far he hasn’t been wrong. There’s no question that nationally, the Republican party is in serious trouble; however, in Texas they continue to win elections because their inevitiability boosts fund raising. I’m looking forward to reading a future Burka post in which he admits he got it wrong and Democrats have exceeded expectations; however, to do that we’re going to need candidates who have the right message, can raise money and can win (take Diana Maldonado as an example of a successful Texas House candidate).
Those of us who continue to bet on the underdogs and in too many elections watch our candidates lose, have seen John Sharp fail too many times. It doesn’t please me to say this, but we are going to lose this race if John Sharp’s our guy.
HeavyDuty said,
December 9, 2008 at 1:17 pm
I have serious respect for any Democrat who steps up to the challenge of running for office, given the advantage that incumbency (greater than 90% recidivism) has bequeathed on office holders.
In the case where the incumbent has removed themselves, for whatever reason, the odds of a Democrat candidate winning increase markedly; case in point is Dianna Maldonado.
Therefore, I don’t believe fellow Democrats should be less than 100% supportive of those who do step up to the plate; especially this early in the run-up to the 2010 elections.
Eye on Williamson » Democrats running statewide have to build an Obama-like coalition said,
December 10, 2008 at 11:02 am
[...] a coalition like that? Well I’m willing to give him a chance, but I’m closer to Dembones and Burka than I am to Sharp’s “camp”. As Harvey Kronberg mentioned in his recent News 8 [...]
Eye on Williamson » Sharp has good policy, but is that enough? said,
January 13, 2009 at 3:57 am
[...] with me and other liberal bloggers from around Texas. Days earlier, I had written a somewhat unflattering post immediately following Sharp’s announcement of his intention to run for United States Senate. [...]