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James Nielsen : Chronicle
Bush campaigns in Sugar Land — President Bush hugs Pat McWaters after his arrival today at Ellington Field in Houston. She received the President's Volunteer Service Award. In Sugar Land, Bush urged support for Shelley Sekula-Gibbs. READ STORY
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Bush stumps for Sekula-Gibbs in Sugar Land
Copyright 2006 Houston Chronicle
President Bush, his collar open and his sleeves rolled up, told 2,000 cheering Republicans in Sugar Land today that they should "bring your pencil" to the polls and write-in the name of Shelley Sekula-Gibbs to succeed Tom DeLay in the U.S. House.
"I always feel better when I'm in Texas," Bush said to the crowd packed into a hangar at the Sugar Land airport, before urging them to take the extra steps necessary to vote for Sekula-Gibbs.
Most voters won't really need a pencil to cast write-in votes because they'll use electronic voting machines. If they write in the councilwoman's name, they'll turn a dial selecting the 18-letter name a character at a time.
"I know I could have given you an easier name and next time I'll think about that," Sekula-Gibbs told the crowd as they waited for the president. Bush was expected to deliver a 45-minute speech before heading by helicopter back to Ellington Field and departing on Air Force One.
Sekula-Gibbs is the party-backed write-in candidate to succeed DeLay, R-Sugar Land, who resigned from Congress after winning the Republican nomination for a 12th term.
A new Chronicle-11 News poll indicates that the race is close, even though Democratic nominee Nick Lampson and Libertarian Bob Smither are on the ballot for the term that begins in January and Sekula-Gibbs isn't.
She is on the ballot in a separate, special election for the final weeks of DeLay's term.
"It's not every day the president of the United States comes to help a girl from Floresville campaign," Sekula-Gibbs said, referring to her south central Texas birthplace.
Also speaking at today's rally were U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, R-Texas, U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, state Sen. Kyle Janek, R-Houston, and state Rep. Charlie Howard, R-Sugar Land.
A handful of protesters walked along Texas 6 near the airport carrying signs against the war in Iraq , but they never were close to the president or the rally.
Lampson kept a low profile as Republicans awaited the president today, meeting privately with donors. He planned to attend a small event tonight at a cousin's house in Pearland.
Lampson campaign manager Mike Malaise issued a statement saying Bush came to town "to try and stir up the base for one of our opponents because she is such a hard sell to that base."
kristen.mack@chron.com