TX-SEN

Does Ron Paul Want To Join Son Rand In The Senate? (VIDEO)

Eric Kleefeld | January 28, 2011, 1:06PM

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) and Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX)

A very interesting name is emerging as a potential candidate for the Republican nomination in the Texas Senate race, where incumbent GOP Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison is retiring: Rep. Ron Paul, who built up a strong online donor base from his anti-war, minimal government presidential campaign in 2008.

As the Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday night:

"I'm just waiting and seeing what comes about, who files and what they do," said Paul, R-Lake Jackson, a 75-year-old obstetrician who has run for president twice and made a Senate bid in 1984.

...

"It's crossed my mind, but ... I haven't taken any active steps," Paul said.

Paul son, freshman Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY), was asked about the report last night during an interview with John King on CNN. And he had a pretty funny response.

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2012 elections

Lieberman And Hutchison: We Could Have Won If We Weren't Retiring

Eric Kleefeld | January 24, 2011, 2:57PM

Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson (R-TX)

The three senators who have announced their 2012 retirements thus far appeared Sunday on This Week. Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) both maintained that they think they could have won re-election -- and the other, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-ND), only commented on why his state has turned against the status quo in Washington.

All in all, these reactions seemed to coincide with the chances that these same individual Senators' seats would stay with their current party or caucus.

Following Conrad's retirement, the Cook Report changed the rating of this race from "Likely Democratic" to "Toss Up." Before Lieberman announced his retirement, Cook had the race as only "Leans Democratic," due in part to the possibility that a three-way race could split the Dem vote and throw the seat to the Republicans -- but it is now the much safer "Likely Democratic." And Hutchison's seat has seen no change -- it was "Likely Republican" before she announced her retirement, and it is "Likely Republican" now.

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TX-SEN

Texas Sen. Hutchison Won't Run Again In 2012

Eric Kleefeld | January 13, 2011, 1:25PM

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX)

We now have an open Senate seat in Texas -- which should likely be a safe GOP hold, but also provide a lot of fun in the 2012 primary season. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison has officially announced her much-expected retirement.

The Dallas Morning News reports:

In a letter to supporters, Hutchison said she enjoyed serving Texas.

"I am announcing today that I will not be a candidate for re-election in 2012," she wrote to supporters. "That should give the people of Texas ample time to consider who my successor will be."

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