To McCaul or not to McCaul

According to the National Journal, this week Texas Congressman Michael McCaul will decide whether he will run for the U.S. Senate.

It’s no secret that McCaul covets the chairmanship of the House Committee on Homeland Security. A failed Senate run would leave him out of Washington entirely. With those risks, what has sparked McCaul’s interest?

Pragmatically, U.S. Senate seats don’t come around very often and McCaul’s bank account automatically makes him a player. Due to his wife Linda’s personal, family fortune, McCaul is the richest member of Congress, worth over $250 million. A showdown between mega-rich candidates like David Dewhurst and Michael McCaul will have insiders salivating.

How would the other candidates attack/react? Trial lawyer Ted Cruz will attack McCaul’s record both as a prosecutor and his record in Washington, likely becoming the defacto attack dog for Dewhurst.

McCaul will instantly become the Washington candidate in a year in which having DC experience is an albatross not a benefit.

McCaul would, of course, have the resources to offset many of the attacks, thereby marginalizing candidates who are not as well-funded. However, as the campaign gets nastier, McCaul’s biggest strength - $$ - could be his biggest weakness.

Tom Leppert is a respected corporate CEO. David Dewhurst built his company, Falcon Seaboard, from scratch. Both have amassed their wealth through their own labor.

In contrast with Leppert and Dewhurst and their respective business experience, McCaul will be snickered at as a man who married into his fortune. What is creepier than the thought of a male gold-digger?

As a fan of the sport of politics, McCaul’s entry would shake things up. At the very least, it would make the negative attacks more interesting.