Hutchison's First Ad: An Explanation

Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX), who backed out of a pledge to resign her seat while pursuing the GOV mansion, used her first TV ad to cast her decision not to resign as a profile in courage.

"I'm going to do everything I can to stop the government takeover of health care, and it's why I'm staying in the Senate through the primary, at risk to my political future," Hutchison says in the 30-second spot. "I cannot walk away while this is pending in Congress."

Hutchison has taken some heat for going back on her pledge to step down sometime this fall, but less so for the decision itself than for the ham-handed way she appeared to handle it. The decision, made last week, came after some Hutchison backers expressed concern about her campaign's perceived lack of progress against Gov. Rick Perry (R), and it gave Perry opportunities to take fresh shots at his opponent.

But the ad, accompanied by robo-calls to GOP primary voters that push the same message, could be another misstep. GOP strategists and political observers pointed out that Hutchison stays entirely negative in the message and never gives a reason she wants to be GOV.

"There is no real positive message here. The ad is about two things: What she's not going to do, and what she's not going to support," said John Pitney, a political scientist at Claremont McKenna College. "Fine, but what is her plan for Texas? What would she do about health care at the state and national levels?"

(REID WILSON)

Others, who asked for anonymity in order to speak freely, questioned whether it was wise to bring up a government takeover when Perry has made an issue of her vote in favor of bailout legislation last year, legislation pressed by then-Pres. Bush but that remains unpopular with GOP primary voters. Perry aides have labeled her "Kay Bailout Hutchison."

Still, there are definite benefits to reversing course and staying in office, Pitney said, citing ex-Sen. Bob Dole and ex-Gov. Sarah Palin as examples of politicians who have quit their office and seen their approval ratings drop. Too, he said, focusing on health care is the obvious move -- it is the issue closest to the minds of GOP primary voters these days.

"Obamacare is extremely unpopular with GOP primary voters, so the emphasis on the issue probably works for her," he said.

Attaching Hutchison to DC is a key part of Perry's strategy. In his own first advertisement, which began running 11/19, he casts the federal government, which he says is broken, against the TX government, allowing him to tout his record.

"While Washington gives us politics," the narrator says, showing a press conference featuring Hutchison, "Texas gives us results."