Reply #14: Oh, Glee!!! They are pounding! Down to only 50 to 53 supporters! [View All]

[Melissa G]

as they run away in droves...
from Politex Star Telegram via quorumreport.com

December 30, 2008
Craddick to weigh next move at strategy session this Sunday

House Speaker Tom Craddick, faced with growing opposition in his bid for re-election to his leadership post, is calling supporters to Austin this weekend for a critical strategy session. One leading ally said the besieged House leader is expected to discuss whether he should stay in the race or withdraw.


snip

Chisum said Craddick clearly has more support than any of his supporters but may be short of the needed 76 votes to win.
“I’m guessing in the numbers of 50 to 53, but that’s not enough to get there,’’ Chisum said. Craddick’s camp says the speaker has more than the needed majority but has not released a list of supporters.

snip
One possibility, Chisum said, would be a “Plan B” option in which Craddick would withdraw and endorse another candidate.

“If he thinks he’s got the votes, he’s going to move forward,” said Chisum. But, he said, “He’s as realist. If he can’t win, I’m confident he won’t take us down that road. If we’re going to win this, we’ve got to be sure we can.”

King, chairman of the Regulated Industries Committee, said Craddick has “told me on more than one occasion that if it ever got to the point that he didn’t think he could win he would be the first to withdraw and release his pledges.” But he said the speaker seems confident about his chances and predicted that he will win re-election.