Does Bush endorsement help Hutchison in the year of tea parties?

In any normal year, the endorsement of a president would be a gold mine in a governor’s race.

But with this year’s voter anger, Tea Party energy and anti-Washington sentiment, does it help to showcase support from the establishment? Kay Bailey Hutchison is about to find out.

On Friday, as a Texas flag fluttered from his house, George H.W. Bush announced his support of Hutchison for governor.

Bush 41 said he didn’t have anything against Rick Perry — then he found something.

“As someone who has served as Harris County GOP chairman a thousand years ago and later as chairman of the Republican National Committee during those ghastly days of Watergate, I respect Kay’s loyal dedication to the Republican Party,” Bush said.

Translation: Perry used to be a Democrat. In 1988, the year that Bush won the presidency, Perry was supporting Al Gore.

Bush looked over at Hutchison, standing erect in a red suit and pearls.

“She was a Lone Star Republican before it was cool to be a Republican in Texas,” he said.

Friday’s endorsement was the latest sign that the Bushies, as the large group of aides and loyalists to the two former presidents are called, are lined up largely behind Hutchison. Earlier this week, former Secretary of State James Baker endorsed her. And before that, former Vice President Dick Cheney.

There has always been a tension between the populist and traditionalist wings of the Republican Party, the elite East and the rugged West.

Bush 41, for all his Texas ties, exudes the former — an elegant elder statesman of a party that values tradition, virtue and polite conservatism.

There’s nothing polite about the Tea Party movement, which has stormed the country club and demanded a more perfect GOP.

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