Cornyn gets ready for critics of ethics vote

2007-08-12

Source: AP

Sen. John Cornyn got a preview of the bruising campaign he may face next fall after casting votes before summer recess against a children's health insurance spending bill and ethics and lobbying reform legislation.

Democrat Mikal Watts, a San Antonio attorney who hopes to challenge Cornyn, and the Democratic Party quickly latched onto the votes.

Watts called Cornyn's vote against the children's health insurance program hypocritical, since the senator gets government-subsidized health care. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee accused Cornyn of siding with a "tiny fringe" in voting against the ethics and lobbying bill.

It's clear Democrats smell opportunity and are eager to get their political talons into one of the state's U.S. Senate seats. But Texas Democrats haven't won a statewide elected office in Texas since 1998.

"The resurgence of Democrats in Texas is not dependent on winning this Senate race, but winning it will give it a huge boost," said Matt Angle, director of the Lone Star Project, formed to try to rebuild the Democratic Party in Texas.

Bob Krueger was the last Texas Democrat in the U.S. Senate and he was appointed to replace Democrat Lloyd Bentsen when Bentsen became treasury secretary. Krueger lost the seat in a 1993 special election to Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison.

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