Free Republic

Poll: Negative race cost Sanchez Voters blame both men but find Perry more palatable 11/27/2002 Associated Press LUBBOCK - About three-fourth of voters who thought the governor's race was negative blamed candidates Rick Perry and Tony Sanchez equally, but Mr. Sanchez apparently suffered more, a survey conducted by Texas Tech students showed. "I think that's the big highlight of the whole survey," Cherie Maestas, an assistant professor of political science at Tech, said Tuesday. "People's opinion of Sanchez suffered more." On a scale of one to five with five being the most favorable, Mr. Perry's average favorability rating among...

Texans vote to keep Perry After spending $60 million, Sanchez not ready to give in 11/06/2002 By WAYNE SLATER / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry barreled to victory Tuesday over political novice Tony Sanchez, stopping his opponent's bid to make history in a rancorous campaign for governor that smashed all spending records. "This has been a competitive campaign," Mr. Perry told exuberant supporters. "We faced a worthy adversary, and I salute Mr. Sanchez, his family and his supporters." Even though he trailed by double digits, the Democratic challenger refused to give up, telling cheering partisans...

Perry ahead in new poll Sanchez says survey fails to consider huge get-out-the vote drive 11/03/2002 By WAYNE SLATER and PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News As the candidates for governor scoured the state for votes Saturday, a new poll gives Republican Rick Perry a comfortable lead in the final days of a bitter and costly race. Mr. Perry is ahead of Democratic challenger Tony Sanchez 50 percent to 38 percent, according to The Dallas Morning News poll of likely voters. Mr. Sanchez has moved slightly closer since the last survey two weeks ago but still trails the...

Sanchez, Kirk head to the Valley for support Candidates use joint appearance to push 'getting the vote out' 10/22/2002 By BRENDA RODRIGUEZ / The Dallas Morning News MERCEDES, Texas - Democrats Tony Sanchez and Ron Kirk teamed up Monday in a campaign sweep along the border, urging supporters to ignore the polls and embrace their ideas for helping Texans. "We need your help," Mr. Sanchez told a packed room of civil leaders and business officials. "The party's over. We can't talk about all our big policy issues. ... What we need to talk about is getting the vote out."...

Parties stump in Plano, Houston GOP rallies the faithful locally; Kirk touts Chronicle's backing 10/21/2002 By TODD J. GILLMAN / The Dallas Morning News PLANO - Buoyed by new polls showing wide leads in the races for governor and U.S. Senate, the GOP ticket rallied the faithful Sunday and poked fun at the Democratic "dream team." With early voting set to open Monday statewide, the Democrats, led by former Dallas mayor and U.S. Senate hopeful Ron Kirk, returned the jabs during an appearance in Houston."The genius of the dream team has nothing to do with complexion," Mr. Kirk said...

Sanchez's strategy against Perry: get out Hispanic vote He needs 'huge turnout' in campaign without issues, expert says 10/20/2002 By DAVID SEDEÑO / The Dallas Morning News Democrat Tony Sanchez's best hope to close the gap on Gov. Rick Perry will be to turn out Hispanics, his core supporters who have yet to be pumped up by his expensive and historic campaign, according to voting experts and a new poll. The Sanchez get-out-the-vote strategy, analysts say, will have to push hard on the traditional phone banks, door-to-door canvassing and Spanish-language TV ads. The effort could draw a record number...

GOP leading in top two races 10/20/2002 By WAYNE SLATER / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN - Republicans seeking the state's top offices hold a double-digit lead over their Democratic opponents, but undecided voters still could narrow the gap with less than three weeks until Election Day. Gov. Rick Perry is favored by 50 percent of likely voters over Laredo businessman Tony Sanchez, backed by 35 percent in the latest poll by The Dallas Morning News. In the Senate race, Republican John Cornyn leads former Dallas Mayor Ron Kirk by 10 points. The Democrats' best chance in the Nov....

Out on this road, the issues come first Perry, Sanchez face an uphill fight to win over rural, suburban voters 10/14/2002 By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News HASKELL, Texas - Out here, cotton and cattle are as big and broad as the far-flung sky, and politics is the tamped-down, straight line of the distant horizon. Even in Rick Perry's hometown of Paint Creek, political yard signs are as rare as a vegetarian restaurant. "I don't care who's elected as long as cattle prices stay up and it rains," said one rancher, leaving a livestock auction. A governor...

For Sanchez, Perry, the well isn't dry yet $5,323 for confetti? Candidates still pouring on the cash 10/13/2002 By WAYNE SLATER and PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN - Asked about putting millions from his own pocket into the race for governor, Democrat Tony Sanchez said in last week's debate that he had been "very, very blessed." So have the hotels, limo services, printers, pollsters, consultants and pizza parlors that have stepped up to help serve the millionaire businessman's record-shattering candidacy. No campaign in Texas history has seen so much spent in pursuit of office - $58...

Sanchez, Perry clash over insurance, ethics Tone is pointed but civil as candidates trade accusations 10/10/2002 By WAYNE SLATER and PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News HOUSTON - GOP Gov. Rick Perry and Democrat Tony Sanchez brought their cross-state shootout to close range Wednesday, assailing each other over the soaring cost of insurance and business ethics. "He is beholden to the insurance industry," Mr. Sanchez charged in the campaign's first televised debate. "That's why we're all having to pay higher and higher rates." Mr. Perry said his administration is working aggressively to deal with the insurance crisis and...

Morales says Perry is his pick Democrat's endorsement crosses party lines 10/09/2002 Associated Press HOUSTON - Former Democrat for governor Dan Morales snubbed his party's pick Tuesday and backed GOP Gov. Rick Perry, saying voters should ignore partisanship and choose the best candidate. "After all, the challenges we face as a state demand the most experienced and most accomplished political leader Texas has to offer. That leader is Rick Perry," Mr. Morales said. The endorsement came on the eve of the first debate between Mr. Perry and his Democratic challenger, Laredo businessman Tony Sanchez. They face off Wednesday night...

Sanchez spending soars He and Perry total a state record $74 million; Democrat could make national history, too 10/08/2002 By WAYNE SLATER and PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN - Democrat Tony Sanchez has spent nearly $58 million in a record-shattering bid for governor, assuring the most expensive race in Texas history at a pace likely to break $100 million by Election Day. Fueled by his own deep pockets, the Laredo businessman is en route to spending more of his own money than any other political candidate in U.S. history. "It is truly extraordinary," said Cal Jillson,...

Perry renews criticism of Sanchez S&L Democrat's campaign calls release of documents illegal 10/02/2002 By PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN - The relentless political drumbeat on homeowners insurance paused briefly Tuesday, as Republican Gov. Rick Perry played variations on a theme from months gone by: Democrat Tony Sanchez's failed savings and loan. The Perry camp offered reporters a four-inch stack of documents designed to rebut Mr. Sanchez's contention that regulators approved of management actions at Laredo-based Tesoro Savings and Loan, a thrift founded by Mr. Sanchez and his father that failed in 1988, leading to a...

Bush adviser stumps for Perry Hughes cites governor's experience; Sanchez touts business prowess 10/01/2002 Associated Press HOUSTON - Karen Hughes, a longtime adviser to President Bush, lent her support to Republican Gov. Rick Perry in his election campaign during a stop in Houston on Monday. Meanwhile, Mr. Perry's Democratic opponent, Tony Sanchez, promoted his business experience at a downtown luncheon. Ms. Hughes said that while it's important to Mr. Bush that Mr. Perry be elected, she said it also means something to her personally. "He's the only candidate who has experience at balancing a public budget. I think that's...

Candidates tangle over SEC inquiry Sanchez campaign says company not being investigated 09/24/2002 By WAYNE SLATER / The Dallas Morning News SAN ANTONIO - Gov. Rick Perry said Monday that Democratic opponent Tony Sanchez's ties to a company questioned by the Securities and Exchange Commission raise doubts about whether he is fit to be governor. Mr. Perry said his opponent owes Texas voters an explanation of "questionable accounting practices" at Zix Corp. of Dallas, an Internet security company on whose board Mr. Sanchez sits. A Sanchez spokesman said Zix is not the target of an SEC inquiry and accused...

Perry, Cornyn tour Dallas suburbs Republicans team up, focus on seniors 08/21/2002 By GROMER JEFFERS JR. and COLLEEN McCAIN NELSON / The Dallas Morning News Senate candidate John Cornyn and Gov. Rick Perry played their message in the Dallas area Tuesday, telling seniors that the GOP ticket would get Texans affordable health care and lower taxes. "We're part of a team," Mr. Cornyn told a crowd in Southlake. "And I'm glad to be on this team." Mr. Cornyn and Mr. Perry took a bus tour through Southlake, Plano, Rockwall and Mesquite, speaking at three senior living centers. Saying the...

Sanchez campaigner fired for seeking race-specific actors for ad 08/03/2002 By PETE SLOVER and MANYA BRACHEAR / The Dallas Morning News The director of the Tony Sanchez campaign's Dallas office was fired Friday after he placed an ad seeking actors for campaign commercials, "a mix of people, with emphasis on Caucasians ... willing to say something like 'I am sick of Perry's negative attacks.' " Capping a week of escalating nastiness, a Sanchez spokesman said campaign staffer John Robert Wright was fired for being "overzealous" and placing the ad in an online actor's trade paper without approval by higher-ups....

Candidates clash over war and spending Cornyn wants Iraqi leader removed; Kirk urges caution 08/02/2002 Associated Press HOUSTON - Senate candidates John Cornyn and Ron Kirk clashed Thursday over prospects for the overthrow of Saddam Hussein and federal spending. At a joint appearance before the Greater Houston Partnership, Mr. Cornyn, the Republican attorney general, said he advocated removing the Iraqi leader from power. Democrat Kirk, the former mayor of Dallas, said while Mr. Hussein is evil, he didn't favor sending troops to Iraq now. "The problem we are living in this day and time is we can either wait...

Gubernatorial race heats up in TV spots Perry links rival to drug dealers; new Sanchez ad disputes allegation 07/30/2002 By PETE SLOVER / The Dallas Morning News AUSTIN - Gov. Rick Perry launched an early strike Monday, a statewide television ad saying that Democratic candidate Tony Sanchez helped drug dealers who laundered money at his Laredo savings and loan. A Perry spokesman said that the savings-and-loan issue was among a number of ethical practices the campaign planned to focus on. "We view this as a solid issue," said Perry spokesman Ray Sullivan, "but not as a 'silver bullet.' "...

Sanchez accuses Perry of corrupting governor's office 07/12/2002 Associated Press HOUSTON - Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tony Sanchez accused incumbent Republican Gov. Rick Perry Friday of corrupting the state's top office. "He has stripped (the governor's office) of its dignity and above all else this campaign is about restoring that dignity by replacing him, which we will do in November," Sanchez said, pointing to Perry's acceptance of campaign contributions from companies like Enron Corp. and WorldCom Inc. Sanchez's attack came in an appearance before the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where Perry was scheduled to speak later in the day....