Ed. Note:So, yea. My video quality was terrible. But, Schieffer's website had a good version.
With a backdrop of Luella Elementary school and under a blistering hot Texas sun, former Ambassador Tom Schieffer declared his run for the Democratic nomination for governor this morning before a diverse crowd of Tarrant County elected officials, supporters, and elementary school children.
Introduced by former State Representative Dan Barrett, Schieffer channeled his neighborhood roots to declare that...
A lot has changed in the world since I went to school in this neighborhood. The economy has globalized. The best product and the best price are never more than a few clicks away on the Internet. Everything moves faster. But a lot of things haven't changed. People still have faith. People still believe in the American dream, people still want a better life for their children, and the Democratic Party still offers people the best chance to realize their dreams.
Arguably the biggest hill that the Bush era Ambassador must climb is convincing Democrats that his friendship with the former president doesn't dictate his politics or his Party loyalties:
I am a Democrat-as Sam Rayburn used to say without prefix, suffix or apology-and I think it is time we all had a governor.
Schieffer laid down the foundation, complete with some populist themes, for why he is the best candidate to succeed:
If we nominate a candidate who can appeal to the broad middle ground of Texas, if we nominate a candidate who understands the importance of education to the future of our children and our economy, if we nominate a candidate who understands the hopes and dreams of labor as well as the hopes and dreams of entrepreneurs, if we nominate a candidate who recognizes the importance of tolerance and civility to our society, if we nominate a candidate who will ask our citizens to put the interests of Texas above the interests of politics and personal gain, then we can win the governor's office in 2010.
With the announcement yesterday by Senator Leticia Van de Putte that she will not challenge Schieffer for the Democratic nomination, yet float Senator Kirk Watson as a potential worthy opponent, the former baseball executive has a very short window to gather momentum for his campaign and fend any opponent away from this particular race. If he fails in that effort this field will become crowded, whether it be Watson or anyone else. If he succeeds then it could be an easier road toward the nomination for Tom Schieffer.
