Posted on 06/10/2006 6:24:19 AM PDT by Theodore R.
Democrat Bell says governor's race between him, Perry
FORT WORTH (AP) - Criticizing Republican Gov. Rick Perry for what he called failures in education and health care, Democratic opponent Chris Bell said Friday the four-way race is really a two-man match.
At the state Democratic convention, Bell downplayed the threat of independent candidates Kinky Friedman, an author and humorist, and Carole Keeton Strayhorn, the state comptroller who opted out of the Republican primary against Perry.
So far in the campaign, the jabs have been traded between Perry and Strayhorn. But this week as the Democratic convention approached, Perry began criticizing Bell, accusing him of being too liberal for mainstream Texans and saying the state is better off since Perry's 2002 election.
"In many respects the Perry campaign knows how this is going to shape up. At the end of the day, after the fascination with the independent candidates passes, there are two people in a position to fight for the governor's office here in Texas: the Republican nominee and the Democratic nominee," Bell told reporters before his convention speech.
Strayhorn's campaign agreed Friday that it's a two-way governor's race - but said it's between Strayhorn and Perry.
In campaign war chests, Perry reported $9.4 million cash-on-hand before the March GOP primary. Strayhorn entered the year with $8.1 million, trailed by Friedman with $271,000, according to reports.
Bell, who reported $98,700 cash-in-hand before the March primary, said he plans to raise more money but that hefty campaign coffers won't help Strayhorn because she doesn't have an existing base of support.
"Carole Strayhorn could have $50 million, and I don't know if that would even be enough to replicate what's already in place on the Democratic side," Bell said. "... It may have been a little beaten up over the course of the last decade, but there's a Democratic Party structure still in place all over the state, and I can't begin to tell you what that is worth. But it's a lot."
Bell said Friedman may attract more people who wouldn't have voted otherwise but that his campaign has been "a lot of funny one-liners."
"Just like people have seen that we don't really need a joke for a governor, they've also realized we don't need a governor just for jokes," Bell said.
Friedman has said he is serious about seeking the office and has laid out a platform for political reforms.
"Really, guys! Come on, I'm still relevant!"
Keaton Rylander Strayhorn, or whatever her name is this week, is a complete loon that will say anything.
Bell-Dummycrat, nuff said
Perry-well, no ones perfect. (but his hair is)
Friedman-entertaining, but harmless. In his own way he has a helluvva lot more integrity than Grandma Strayhorn rylander Keaton (She just changed it again)
His schtick is at least more entertaining than her "One tough Grandma" ripoff from Hee-Haw (And I like Hee-Haw)
Based on the theory that governing least is governing best, I'd vote for the Kinkster. No songwriter is ever going to put in a full's day work.
This will be a real nose holder this November! Perry is utterly worthless and thanks to his "Adopt a Cajun" policy, crime has gone up. Keaton reminds me a an ex-wife that never went away. Kinky is an utter idiot and known liberal and anyone who's a Democrap, they just don't make it outside of Austin!
I'd agree that the guy's not well know--I've never heard of him, and I'm in Texas. I've read a lot of stuff about the upcoming race for governor--but have to admit, I've never heard of this guy.
That's why we need a fifth (and a real conservative) candidate for the November eleciton, but it would have to be a write-in at this stage, and I'm not sure enough voters would understand how to "write in" a candidate.
Kinky is very popular in the Houston area, and that is going to hurt Bell...as that is his area as well. I see many more Kinky signs and stickers than I ever do Bell materials.
"Adopt a Cajun" is not an accurate reflection of what Perry did. How can I put this, Cajuns are white, a Cajun is someone who is descended from Quebecois who were forced to move to Southern Louisiana by the British following the French and Indian War. The evacuees taken into Houston, none of them fit this profile.
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