November 07, 2003
Strayhorn to be "Special Guest" at Fundraiser for Democratic State Rep.
By Byron LaMasters
A BOR reader sent me a copy of an invitation of to a fundraiser for State Rep. Pete Gallego (D-Alpine). It looks pretty standard until you take a look at the special guests:
(For the front of the invitation - and the back with the official "Pol. Ad. paid for by the Pete P. Gallego campaign" logo, click here.)
Carole Keeton Strayhorn is the Republican State Comptroller. Pete Gallego is one of the Democratic Killer D leaders, so seeing Strayhorn listed as a special guest for Gallego's fundraiser is quite a surprise. Generally being "special guest" at a fundraiser implies that the guest is endorsing the purpose of the fundraiser and the purpose of this fundraiser is to raise money for the Pete Gallego campaign.
I've tended to dismiss speculation that Strayhorn might be considering switching parties. Greg Wythe has also speculated on that possibility here, here, here and here, Charles Kuffner here and Dave McNeely here... but this certainly adds fuel to the fire.
Posted by Byron LaMasters at November 7, 2003 06:15 AM
| TrackBack
Carole Keeton McClellan Rylander Strayhorn (pick one, already!) seems about as determined to go through political parties as quickly as she goes through bad state budget estimates. As I recall, back in her days as mayor of Austin, she was a (d)EMOCRAT and switched to (R)epublican when she discovered that's where all the votes were.
Why not have a trade? Democrats take Strayhorn and Republicans take Ralph Hall.
"because that's where all the votes were" ???
She switched in 1985 to run against US Rep. Jake Pickle. There was no way she was going to win a primary battle against him, so there was no way to get the upward mobility she then sought.
http://www.austinchronicle.com/issues/vol18/issue07/pols.lonestars.html
Most notably, she lost ... badly. So where were those votes then?
Similar scenario now ... Hutchison, Perry, and (the ultimate insult) Dewhurst reside above her in terms of office held and desirability of said office. She'd have great odds taking on Perry head-to-head ... but it may not come to that. Either Hutchison tosses her ever-so-popular hat in the ring for Gov, or someone else pulls a Hail Mary play out of the playbook to confound things (then-Rylander had eyes for the Lite Guv job before Dewhurst botched that for her).
Once more, the crazy grandma from Austin wants her 15 minutes of fame and its up to her to decide ... does she do it by trying to replay the George W. Bush playbook of 1994 & 1998 ... or does she help reform the Democratic party in Texas? Nowadays, the votes may be there for her as a Dem. To the extent she carries a bit of GOP support, keeps her independent voters, and replaces the lost GOP votes with new Dem voters (I'd anticipate she'd have some detractors on our side if she switches, but I'd put it at less than 20%). Question for Strayhorn to answer is where her money will come from if she switches ... and if she doesn't.
As for the Hall-for-Strayhorn swap ... I'd take it in a heartbeat!
Actually, I was referring to the movement of Texas elections in general when I wrote "that's where all the votes were". I think Strayhorn is just another typical politician, doing what's best for her own career.
Of course one wonders what would happen to her son, Scott McClellan- the President's Press Secretary- if she were to switch parties. I pray that some BOR reader will go to this event (We'll front the $25 admission) and tell us what she says.
