Jason Stanford: How Bill White Can Beat Rick Perry
Despite polls showing Bill White closing in on Rick Perry, the question I keep getting on the governor’s race is, “Can Bill White win?” Perry has defeated Democrats and Republicans, populists and conservatives, established statewide officeholders and billionaire outsiders. And in this year's primary, he beat not only the most popular politician in Texas in U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison but the Bush team, most of whom were backing her.
So can White, mayor emeritus of Houston, do it? It will take an act of God.
I managed Chris Bell’s campaign in 2006, and if losing ...
Comments (8)
Phillip Martin
The takeaway from this column is that White needs to take a gymnastics class to be more nimble and quick? It boggles the mind why Chris Bell didn't do better...
jrj
...and your last successful campaign was when?
Ida Sessions via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Best use of comment for editorial purposes I'm likely to see today. Who's running the Facebook comment machine over there today...?
eamartinez
Disagree - 1. It's still early. Right now it's about defining candidates. Folks know Perry (as he continues to solidify his image as a man of dubious judgment and ideology) -- but they don't know White. Most importantly, at this stage, White is doing a great job of NOT allowing Perry to define him. Suggesting that White should respond in-kind to Perry's shenanigans at this point reeks of "politics as usual" and desperation.
Right now, White is coming off as an even-keeled, responsible, pragmatic leader. This is why he's closing in on Perry. Yes, he needs to increase his visibility over time, but he doesn't need to do it with some silly reactionary program opposite Perry's goofs. Perry is so out there, voters can read the newspaper and "see it for what it is" without White's help. Right now, folks want a REAL alternative and some REAL leadership. More political silliness will keep voters at home (even if they like White) -- and that plays right into Perry's favor.
2. Bell lost because he lacked personal appeal, charisma, and a clear message.
Megan Marie via Texas Tribune on Facebook
i beg to differ with this dumba$$.... :)
Evelyn White via Texas Tribune on Facebook
How wonderful -- he has a Bill White Campaign sign in his yard.
He's a "hired gun."
If Mr Stanford had run a "successful" l campaign against Perry.... his advice may have more value.
As it is.... you have run a "guest column" by a loser.
Robbie Cooper
Great.
As if the Trib isn't sufficiently in Bill White's pocket, they have to bring in a "guest columnist" to pile onto Gov. Rick Perry, too.
Feign surprise.
And Jason? You're advice is just bad. Really bad.
Gov. Perry shooting a coyote with his personal (and legal) handgun was only seen as an oddity or liability by non-gun owning or hunting Liberals. To try to make that an issue in deeply pro-gun and pro-hunting Texas would have been a mistake on Bill White's part.
Gov. Perry nor the majority of Texans' thought anything bad, silly, or unusual about the incident.
Same goes for the comment about God and the oil spill. This might come as a surprise to many Liberals, but Texas is a deeply religious state, and most of its citizens believe in God.
Which means that most of its citizens also believe that God's hand is in and on every thing. To include oil spills and natural disasters.
Attacking Gov. Perry on his Christian faith wasn't going to win Bill White any support in Texas. So, again, your advice was wisely ignored.
Wow...maybe Bill White isn't quite as dumb as he looks...
eamartinez
Maybe, just maybe, God is punishing the South for voting Republican. Disregard for the poor. Punishing the needy. Trashing the environment and all of God's creation. Selling out to the money changers. Slavery and it's legacy policies of hate (Jim Crow, segregation, economic red-lining, the 1952 INA) . Using the Church to honor Caesar (Regan, Bush 41, and the pinnacle with Bush 43). The exploitation of immigrant labor -- documented and undocumented.
There is scripture for every issue and all are sins in the eyes of the Lord.