Perry Already Working To Remove Foes From 2010 Governor’s Race

Texas Governor Rick Perry is already doing his best to put potentially strong Democratic challengers to his bid for a third term in 2010 in a position where it would be very difficult for them to run against him. Case in point: John Montford, the former State Senator who was chancellor of Texas Tech and is now an executive with AT&T:

John Montford, a former state senator who’s now an AT&T executive, would make a good University of Texas System chancellor, Gov. Rick Perry told several San Antonio legislators Monday.

“He seemed to suggest that if it were up to him, he had a preference for a non-academician and that John Montford would be considered — was in the running,” Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-San Antonio, said Tuesday.

Of course, John Montford would not be my first choice as the Democratic nominee in 2010. However, many political insiders do view him as a potential contender and, of course, he’d have no shortage of funding for the race. Montford, of course, has also been mentioned as a possibility for mayor of San Antonio in some circles.

Montford, without question, is qualified for the post at UT. But, it is very interesting that Perry is throwing out the name of someone who has also been mentioned as a possible opponent.

I wonder what Perry will try to do with Bill White, John Sharp and–perhaps–Ronnie Earle (who would be an excellent candidate in 2010)? While Perry’s most immediate concern is clearly Kay Bailey Hutchison (who he can’t fan away with an appointment to the Texas Building and Procurement Commission). Unless she is McCain’s number two this fall, though, there is little chance he can keep her out of the race–although you can count us among those skeptics who believe she’s all hat and no cattle and won’t ever make a race for governor.

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