A more subtle dynamic (in a race short on subtle dynamics) to the Kay Bailey Hutchison v Rick Perry duel is how longshot primary challenger Debra Medina impacts the race.
Case in point: An op-ed Medina wrote on Monday, attacking Hutchison on abortion.
Conservative and pro-choice rarely fall in the same sentence, unless you’re referring to “conservative” gubernatorial candidate Kay Bailey Hutchison, of course. A long time Washington insider and clear adversary on pro-life issues, Senator Hutchison has had ample opportunity to rally against abortion, and she has failed.
That's enough to get the gist.
The question is whether attacks on Hutchison will drive KBH supporters to the pro-life Perry or Perry supporters to Medina.
If it's the latter, Medina could be helping Hutchison by ostensibly hurting her.
Another question is how viable a spoiler Medina can be. In the latest primary poll, Medina gets 7%. Not a lot, but as the pollster noted, plenty enough to play spoiler.
One more thing, Medina home-schooled her kids and seems to have pretty close ties to evangelicals -- again, that's Perry's group. In fact, the Texas Home School Coalition has already endorsed Perry.
So if she stays in the race, my guess is she hurts Perry.
[Hat tip: Rick v Kay]
