George P. Bush has more than to spend on his campaign for Texas Land Commissioner. His two main challengers, a Republican and a Democrat, have a combined total of around $20,000.
Democrat John Cook, former Mayor of El Paso, about $13,000 since June. Republican David Watts's this week indicates fundraising in the second half of 2013 of about $7,000.
is a professor of political science at St. Edward鈥檚 University in Austin. He says what the Bush campaign is doing is a tried and true intimidation tactic.
鈥淗e鈥檚 over-raising money to scare off any potential Republican challenger,鈥� Smith says. 鈥淚f I鈥檓 a Democrat I would be, like, wow, I have to raise $3.3 million just to match him. That鈥檚 going to scare me away. If I鈥檓 a Republican, I鈥檓 going to be like, gosh, he鈥檚 got a lot of money. Let him have it.鈥�
Dr. Smith also says Bush knows enough Texas history to know that politicians have used offices like Agriculture Commissioner and Land Commissioner as a stepping to stone to higher places.
鈥淩ick Perry being one of them. Jerry Patterson is trying to do that,鈥� Smith said.
Current Land Commissioner Patterson is one of three prominent Republicans -- the others being Ag. Commissioner Todd Staples and State Senator Dan Patrick -- who are trying to unseat Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst in the upcoming Republican primary election.
Dewhurst said Thursday on the Texas Tribune鈥檚 that if he wins another term, it鈥檚 likely to be his last. He spoke with Texas Tribune editor-in-chief Evan Smith.
鈥淚 expect this is my last term in office,鈥� Dewhurst said.
鈥淓xpect or promise?鈥� Smith asked.
鈥淓虫辫别肠迟.鈥�
鈥淪o, you鈥檙e not saying for certain you鈥檙e not going to run again if you win this time?鈥�
鈥淚 don鈥檛 expect to run for reelection in 2018,鈥� Dewhurst confirmed.
Dr. Smith says Dewhurst is considering his choices from a diminished number of options. "He has to look and say, what options do I have? And maybe retirement is his best option. You're only as good as your last election, and if you lose that election, that's your legacy."
The next election for Dewhurst and for George P. Bush is the Republican Primary on March 4.
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