Posted on 02/21/2010 7:50:11 AM PST by LA Woman3
WHARTON -- It began as a battle of the titans, with Rick Perry -- the longest serving governor in Texas history -- being challenged in the GOP primary by the state's senior U.S. senator, Kay Bailey Hutchison.
But as the multimillion-dollar contest comes to a close, Perry's bid for another four-year term appears to hinge not only on Hutchison's strength but on the fate of the third candidate in the race -- Debra Medina, a once-obscure insurgent whose showing in the March 2 primary will decide whether Perry wins outright or faces an April runoff. With Perry holding a seemingly insurmountable lead in polls, the governor's race in recent weeks began evolving into a surprise battle for second place as Medina appeared to be within striking distance of overtaking Hutchison, one of the state's dominant political figures.
But Medina's detractors -- as well as several independent analysts -- say she may have self-destructed in a Feb. 11 interview with conservative commentator Glenn Beck by not immediately disavowing a theory that the U.S. government may have played a role in the 9-11 terrorist attacks.
The former Wharton County Republican chairwoman quickly sought to repair the damage, saying there was no doubt that Muslim terrorists flew the hijacked planes on 9-11. Medina now says she believes the incident may have strengthened her candidacy by galvanizing supporters, positioning her for a strong showing against her two Republican rivals.
"Did it feel good? No. Am I sick of answering the questions? Yes. I am," she said in an hourlong interview last week in her Wharton campaign headquarters. "But at the end of day, I think it's going to be labeled backfire," she added, repeating her contention that she was set up in Beck's interview.
(Excerpt) Read more at star-telegram.com ...
It's sickening. She's spinning more and more out of control and down the drain. She's done. My vote is for Perry.
Birds (including Medina) of a feather...
Beck ambushed her!
/Sarcasm
CPAC straw poll says Paul is a winner LoL 32% approval.
Sarah Palin 7% Pawlenty 6%
This according to an ABC news radio report I just heard.
Good Lord if this is anywhere close to accurate we are so screwed.
I don’t believe it. Smells like BS
I don’t see KBH going away quietly.
All he had to do was side with the palestinians to piss me off.
He needs to take the money he made in Texas and head on home.
Dont forget to thank us and kiss our Texas ass on the way home.
I was interested in Medina until the Beck interview shined some light on her kooky ideas.
Farouk Farouk!
I was very interested. I was looking for someone that wasnt a career politician.
But she blew it BIGTIME
She couldn’t manage her mouth, Hows she gonna manage the state?
Can you believe this clown is even a contender?
If you mean by that she was unwittingly honest, I agree with you.
If you're not a conspiracy geek, it would be very easy to answer that particular question.
I heard her interview on Beck. No way would I vote for her after hearing her hem and haw while actually defending some of what the truthers believe by just stopping short of admitting it. I didn’t care for her spin afterward. I don’t trust her handlers and I was surprised by the degree of threatening anger her handlers and supporters who called in on the Joe Pags show.
I will hold my nose and vote for Perry because Medinah and KBH would be a much bigger disaster for our state.
This is not the CPAC you once knew. This is a CPAC full of the Gay Marriage Crowd and Paulistinians.
“But at the end of day, I think it’s going to be labeled backfire,” she added, repeating her contention that she was set up in Beck’s interview.
The woman believes that two direct questions were set ups? LOL
The questions began with:
1. “Do you believe”
2. “would you disavow”
And the answers she gave began her Waltz Across Texas...
I like Perry, he has stuck by Gov. Palin and been a true friend to her through thick and thin. Hes a honorable man and a great leader for Texas. Not to mention if he wins the primary Gov. Palin will be back in TX campaigning for him. That right there is a good enough reason to vote for him.
Its like herding cats!
The GOP is getting as bad as the Dems as far splinters go.
If you actually listen to beck, he is a poser and supports Perry. America needs more people like Medina, otherwise things will never change.
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