By now, everyone with a political pulse knows that former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, will be a contestant on “Dancing with the Stars,” when the popular ABC reality show comes back for its new season on Sept. 21.
But how should we handicap “The Hammer”? And can he top the showing of another conservative boldfaced name, Tucker Carlson, who famously bombed in his “DWTS” debut?
Yes, say members of his longtime inner circle, who say his advantages are three-fold:
-Dancing ability: “He’s a really good dancer,” says Jonathan Grella, a political consultant and former DeLay spokesman. “The first time I saw him my jaw dropped.” DeLay’s wife, Christine, told PoliticsDaily.com that he can dance “the two-step, polka, waltz, country swing and disco.”
-Hard work: Despite DeLay’s 62 years, he’s been taking it seriously. While he starts dance rehearsals with his partner tomorrow, his spokeswoman Shannon Flaherty says he’s been working out with a personal trainer and is in “great shape.”
Guile: “He’s also a very determined and crafty individual,” said Grella. “I was concerned about his partner’s elbow — it’s ripe for twisting.” And yes, said Flaherty, DeLay’s confidants will be whipping the vote. He’s already launched a fan site (tomdelay.com) that dangles the promise of future YouTube videos, as well as copious Twitter and Facebook updates. Clearly already deep into his analysis, Grella notes that the anti-DeLay vote “will be split many ways, at least early on,” as his detractors cast their votes for anyone from Kathy Ireland to Donny Osmond to Macy Gray. “He’ll be able to drum up a lot of support.”
It’s not DeLay’s first experience with “DWTS,” either. In 2006, he famously came out in support of country singer and Season 3 contestant Sara Evans, thanks to her support of the Republican party.
