Democrats in Texas just received a very nice new year's present. Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn announced today that she's running for governor as an independent. Strayhorn is a Republican and was thinking of running in the primary against the incumbent Republican governor, Rick Perry. Although she's raised a considerable amount of money (I believe the latest reports had her at about $5 million), Perry has the social conservative wing of the state Republican party wrapped up and most observers believe that he would've beaten her in the primary. Strayhorn's decision to run as an independent means that the Texas general election ballot may have four major names (or at least three serious names and one almost serious name). Assuming that they can both obtain the necessary signatures to get on the ballot, Strayhorn and Kinky Friedman will be on the ballot as independents. Perry will be on the ballot as the Republican nominee. Chris Bell, a former member of the US House from the Houston area, will probably win the Democratic primary. The good news for Bell is that the Democratic base in state-wide general elections ranges between 35-40%. If Strayhorn splits the Republican vote with Perry, then Bell has a plausible chance of winning the governor's race if he can hold the base. The key for Bell is for Strayhorn - "One Tough Grandma" - to run a very strong race and pull the pro-business Republicans who don't care much about the social conservative issues away from Perry. She'll have the money to run competitively and should do well among Republican women and downtown business types. Perry is widely viewed, even among Republicans, as an empty suit, but he's very popular among social conservatives. (Strayhorn also happens to be WH Press Sect'y Scott McClellan's mom.) Friedman may draw some votes in ways that are difficult to predict right now, but minority voters will almost certainly stick with Bell, which should be enough to hold the Democratic base. Strayhorn enters governor's race as independent, Houston Chronicle 01/02
Interesting tidbit in the sidebar bio on Ms. Strayhorn: That's going to make for some interesting family gatherings...
That is the only poll I've seen with numbers anywhere close to that. Friedman is really confusing me, he's running as an outsider maverick but he just seems to be more and more of some backwoods hick every time he opens his mouth. I'm considering giving my vote to Bell instead.
This is exactly what happened with me, a bleeding heart socialist. I realized that Kinky was revealing himself more and more as a Republican, combined with the fact that Bell is actually a really good candidate (minus the name recognition). If Kinky's #'s keep slipping & Bell gets more and more attention, I think a lot of people will realize this is the best chance to put a D in the mansion for years to come.
Sorry, but only Kinky in the Governor's Mansion will make me reconsider Texas as a province of flaming buttholes.
Kinky is extremely liberal on many issues. I find it strange that the Daily Kos crowd is going after him.
Not really surprising. Kos wants liberal DEMS in office. Plus, Kinky has really stepped in it recently.
I don't know about extremely. I wouldn't call putting a billion (or whatever the #) national guard troops on the border that much of a leftist idea.
There was quite a bit of pro-Kinky discussion a few months ago. It stopped when Kinky started putting his foot in his mouth more often and an increasing realization that the Dems might actually steal this.
Because they are Leftist not Liberals. The difference being that Liberals are for Liberalism and Leftists are against Republicans.