Speaker’s Race: McCall Out, Pitts Endorsed, More Votes For…Craddick?

Yesterday was a watershed day in the race for Speaker of the Texas House. Rep. Brian McCall (R-Plano) dropped out and endorsed Rep. Jim Pitts (R-Waxahachie), while House Speaker Tom Craddick actually picked up three more votes.

Debbie Riddle, Jodie Laubenberg, and Ken Paxton sent out a press release “reaffirming” their support for Craddick.

Pitts now claims he has enough votes in hand to defeat Craddick. He won’t release a list of supporters, though, and for good reason: he doesn’t want Craddick retaliating against them or going after them.

But, does Pitts have enough support? There has been some speculation that Democrats who were pledged to McCall will defect (Paul Burka’s misguided speculation is because Democrats are whiners who weren’t consulted about the endorsement) because Pitts is cut from a mold similar to Craddick.

Garnett Coelman (D-Houston), has, however, endorsed Pitts, though with some reluctance:

Coleman said Pitts “is a whole lot more conservative by his actions over the last four years than I would desire. However, I understand the difference between change and stupid. I like change.”

The Statesman seems to think this will bring over the other 57 Democrats that were pledged to Senfronia Thompson (D-Houston) that went over to McCall. I think some would just as soon cast a “protest vote” and vote ‘present.’

Bottom line: does Pitts have the support to defeat Craddick?

I still say no (I heard today that Craddick picked up additional D’s and R’s). Even though Pitts was the candidate that it was believed more Republicans would come to over McCall, I think a lot of Republicans will still stay away because, after all, at least 40 Democrats will probably be supporting him, including more liberal members of the House.

It comes down to whether or not Republicans want to be hit with a mailer from their Craddick-supported primary opponents that says something like, “Your Representative voted for the same House Speaker as Liberal Garnett Coelman!”

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