Some allies of Tom Craddick have turned against him. Does it matter?

By Matt Pulle | Tuesday, November 18th, 2008

If you can figure out how the Speaker’s race is going to play out, you’re a lot smarter than we are. Last week, Burnt Orange Report said (and painstakingly documented) that Tom Craddick simply doesn’t have the votes to stay on as speaker, while Texas Monthly’s Paul Burka countered that if Craddick doesn’t have the votes, then who exactly does?

On Monday, the San Antonio Express-News deftly catalogued how Craddick’s own Republican colleagues are fed up with how the speaker’s race is playing out. In turn, they seem to be pointing the blame at the boss for once again making deals behind closed doors. 

Here are some of their angrier comments: 

“This is just turning into a fiasco again. The House is seemingly coming apart. I am terribly, terribly dismayed that ….. apparently we have a handful of Democrats making demands for control of power and clout and title,” Solomons said of an estimated 10 Democrats willing to support Craddick so long as the speaker rewards them with key appointments. “A number of us, even though we’re supporters of Tom Craddick, are just totally turned off.”

 Burt Solomons, R-Carrollton, a Craddick ally.

“This kind of strife is the last thing we need going into a session with a divided House. We have major issues that requires us to work together without revisiting old fights from the past. Members don’t want that. Texans don’t want that.”

Rep. Joe Straus, R-San Antonio, a former Craddick supporter who so far is neutral.

“Those people will get badgered and beat until the day we make the vote.”

Rep. Patricia Harless, R-Spring, who voted for Craddick two years ago, telling the Express-News that no legislator wants to tell anyone they’re supporting someone other than Craddick.

What’s interesting about the Express-News’ story is that while Craddick’s allies are clearly frustrated, it’s not clear they are rallying behind anyone else. To use a well-worn betting analogy, at this point, if it’s Craddick versus the Field, the Field wins. But if it’s Craddick versus any another member of the Field, he wins. 

Judging by press accounts of the speaker’s race, no one has emerged as a serious alternative to Craddick, which would seem to suggest two things: No one has emerged as a serious alternative to Craddick or whoever has emerged as a serious alternative to Craddick is being really quiet.