"Perry has a sneaking suspicion who his biggest opponent will be."
Perry, Bell win nominations as independents seek signatures
Wed, Mar. 08, 2006
KELLEY SHANNON
Associated Press
Copyright 2006
AUSTIN - It'll be weeks before Republican Gov. Rick Perry knows exactly which candidates he'll face in November.
But he's got a sneaking suspicion who his biggest opponent will be, and he's trying hard not to mention her by name.
Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, billing herself as "one tough grandma," has millions of dollars to spend on her independent run for governor against Perry and at this point poses his biggest threat. She and author-musician Kinky Friedman moved their independent candidate petition drives into full gear Wednesday, following Tuesday's party primaries.
Democrat Chris Bell, a former congressman, captured his party's nomination over former Texas Supreme Court justice Bob Gammage, winning 64 percent of the vote to Gammage's 28 percent. Perry cruised to victory over three little-known GOP opponents.
When Perry greeted campaign supporters in Austin after his primary victory, he took a broad swipe at his rivals, without naming them.
"The real test of leadership is not saying what you're against. It's saying what you're for. Texans deserve better than empty criticism that serves as a substitute for real substance," Perry said.
For a couple of years, Strayhorn has chided Perry over children's health cuts and the Legislature's failure to fix the school finance system. The Democrats and Friedman also have made it their mission to denounce Perry's tenure.
If Strayhorn and Friedman gather the 45,540 registered voter signatures they each need to make the November election ballot, Texas will have a historic four-way race. They have until May 11 to turn in the signatures.
Friedman kicked his petition drive off with a midnight rally at the Texas Capitol, where several hundred supporters cheered and lined up to sign their names.
"This is a true moment in history," Friedman said. "When we get on the ballot, we'll be making history."
No independent candidate has won the Texas governorship since Sam Houston in the 1850s.
In the Democratic race, neither leading candidate had much campaign money, and certainly not enough to buy television advertising. That may have to change for Bell if he expects to be a serious contender in the fall. Television commercials are usually essential in winning a race for governor in a state as large as Texas.
"Obviously we are going to have to raise the money necessary to get the message out to the people of Texas," Bell said.
Bell may start attracting more Democratic donors, some of whom have been giving to Strayhorn, if he succeeds in casting Strayhorn as too similar to Perry and unlikely to beat him, said Mike Lavigne, former chief of staff of the Texas Democratic Party.
"He has to make it very clear that there are only two visions on the ballot," Lavigne said, referring to the Democrat and Republican nominees. "Strayhorn is a part of the establishment, whether she likes it or not."
Strayhorn ran for her current office as a Republican, but on the final day of primary filing in January she announced she would run for governor as an independent.
Republican consultant Ray Sullivan, who worked for Perry's gubernatorial campaign in 2002, said in the coming weeks Perry should try to continue to be viewed as a strong governor focusing on important issues and "let the other candidates gripe and grouse and scramble for support."
So far, Perry has mostly let his campaign spokespeople talk directly about his opponents, and that is likely to continue, Sullivan said, adding that he expects the campaign will speak out about flaws in the other candidates.
"Many of the other candidates have changed positions or parties or philosophies over the years and, when appropriate, the Perry campaign should point that out," he said.
Strayhorn, a former conservative Democrat, served three terms as Austin mayor before switching parties and running unsuccessfully for Congress as a Republican in 1986.
By running for governor as an independent, Strayhorn avoided the probability of a primary loss to Perry and gave herself more time to campaign and raise money.
Despite the criticism lobbed his way the multi-candidate field that appears to be emerging, Perry is riding a wave of success that he hopes to maintain.
It's his eighth run for office. He has never lost.
© 2006 The Associated Press: www.ap.org
Wed, Mar. 08, 2006
KELLEY SHANNON
Associated Press
Copyright 2006
AUSTIN - It'll be weeks before Republican Gov. Rick Perry knows exactly which candidates he'll face in November.
But he's got a sneaking suspicion who his biggest opponent will be, and he's trying hard not to mention her by name.
Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, billing herself as "one tough grandma," has millions of dollars to spend on her independent run for governor against Perry and at this point poses his biggest threat. She and author-musician Kinky Friedman moved their independent candidate petition drives into full gear Wednesday, following Tuesday's party primaries.
Democrat Chris Bell, a former congressman, captured his party's nomination over former Texas Supreme Court justice Bob Gammage, winning 64 percent of the vote to Gammage's 28 percent. Perry cruised to victory over three little-known GOP opponents.
When Perry greeted campaign supporters in Austin after his primary victory, he took a broad swipe at his rivals, without naming them.
"The real test of leadership is not saying what you're against. It's saying what you're for. Texans deserve better than empty criticism that serves as a substitute for real substance," Perry said.
For a couple of years, Strayhorn has chided Perry over children's health cuts and the Legislature's failure to fix the school finance system. The Democrats and Friedman also have made it their mission to denounce Perry's tenure.
If Strayhorn and Friedman gather the 45,540 registered voter signatures they each need to make the November election ballot, Texas will have a historic four-way race. They have until May 11 to turn in the signatures.
Friedman kicked his petition drive off with a midnight rally at the Texas Capitol, where several hundred supporters cheered and lined up to sign their names.
"This is a true moment in history," Friedman said. "When we get on the ballot, we'll be making history."
No independent candidate has won the Texas governorship since Sam Houston in the 1850s.
In the Democratic race, neither leading candidate had much campaign money, and certainly not enough to buy television advertising. That may have to change for Bell if he expects to be a serious contender in the fall. Television commercials are usually essential in winning a race for governor in a state as large as Texas.
"Obviously we are going to have to raise the money necessary to get the message out to the people of Texas," Bell said.
Bell may start attracting more Democratic donors, some of whom have been giving to Strayhorn, if he succeeds in casting Strayhorn as too similar to Perry and unlikely to beat him, said Mike Lavigne, former chief of staff of the Texas Democratic Party.
"He has to make it very clear that there are only two visions on the ballot," Lavigne said, referring to the Democrat and Republican nominees. "Strayhorn is a part of the establishment, whether she likes it or not."
Strayhorn ran for her current office as a Republican, but on the final day of primary filing in January she announced she would run for governor as an independent.
Republican consultant Ray Sullivan, who worked for Perry's gubernatorial campaign in 2002, said in the coming weeks Perry should try to continue to be viewed as a strong governor focusing on important issues and "let the other candidates gripe and grouse and scramble for support."
So far, Perry has mostly let his campaign spokespeople talk directly about his opponents, and that is likely to continue, Sullivan said, adding that he expects the campaign will speak out about flaws in the other candidates.
"Many of the other candidates have changed positions or parties or philosophies over the years and, when appropriate, the Perry campaign should point that out," he said.
Strayhorn, a former conservative Democrat, served three terms as Austin mayor before switching parties and running unsuccessfully for Congress as a Republican in 1986.
By running for governor as an independent, Strayhorn avoided the probability of a primary loss to Perry and gave herself more time to campaign and raise money.
Despite the criticism lobbed his way the multi-candidate field that appears to be emerging, Perry is riding a wave of success that he hopes to maintain.
It's his eighth run for office. He has never lost.
© 2006 The Associated Press:
posted by Porkus Maximus Tex: at Wednesday, March 08, 2006
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