Texas' Cornyn prepared for Senate challenge
AUSTIN — Eccentric and extremely conservative, U.S. Rep. Steve Stockman made a big splash when he entered Texas' 2014 U.S. Senate race, stunning the political world with a last-minute challenge against powerful Republican incumbent John Cornyn. But it could prove to be the high-water mark for Stockman's campaign.
Though the prospect of Stockman teaming up with the fiery Ted Cruz to shake the Senate to its core no doubt delights Tea Party activists, the Republican congressman doesn't appear to most other political observers to be a credible candidate. He seems to have too little money, be joining the race much too late and be facing too many questions about financial mismanagement and possibly even campaign finance violations.
“It's a soufflé: It rises quickly, but then it falls — and it falls quickly because there's nothing to hold it up,” Texas GOP strategist Matt Mackowiak said of the buzz created by Stockman's surprise move on Monday evening. “I think polling is going to show Cornyn is not vulnerable, and Stockman is not viable.”
Cornyn's campaign refused to comment on Tuesday. Spokesman Drew Brandewie said the $7 million the campaign had in cash as of Sept. 30 is enough of a statement. Stockman reported having only about $32,000 in cash while carrying $163,000-plus in debt.
Mackowiak said barely 70 days remain before early voting begins in Texas' March 4 primary, and running a statewide television advertisement at “saturation levels” for one week alone costs $1.5 million. Just one such spot would mean Stockman has to raise about $17,000 daily — including on Christmas. There are six other candidates in the GOP race.
The Cornyn camp also seems to have plenty to work with if it wants to go negative. A recent Houston Chronicle investigation found that Stockman long failed to file federal campaign finance disclosure forms and that, when he finally did, he provided few details about businesses he claimed were his only source of income. Stockman recently dismissed two congressional staffers for making prohibited contributions to his campaign.
Messages to Stockman's campaign weren't returned on Tuesday. A staffer answering the phone at his congressional office said “everything's closed today, so you didn't pick a good day to call,” referring to snow in Washington, D.C., that shuttered schools and offices.
Stockman will likely draw support from grass-roots activists who view Cornyn, who has been in office since 2002 and is minority whip, as an establishment Republican.
