Burnt Orange Report

"My concern is actually that Bell has been running for a year, and the only difference he makes relative to Gammage or anyone else is 2.5% points."

My concern exactly. I like Bell and his politics, but c'mon, what's the deal? He and his team can do better. And if they can't, well they should forget about winning.

For example, Bell doesn't come off as being governor of Texas material. It should be obvious that whoever runs as a Dem for governor should. In this regard, the ethics complaint won't get Bell very far in Texas. He needs to exude strength, coupled with principles and ideas. That's what Texans respect and what's going to be needed to change what is almost, at this point, a cultural affiliation many Texans feel with the GOP.

The Dems need to have a sweeping and coordinated campaign for not only the governor's mansion, but for state and federal congressional seats as well.

Looks like another four years of Gov. Perry to me. Democrats have nothing to crow about here, when OTG beats them too. And Kinky closely trailing.

69% unfamiliar with Rhett Smith. Too bad for him that number can only go down.

I wasn't a big Bell supporter before. But his early attack against Gammage instead of showing positive leadership makes me want to vote for him even less. I've seen a lot of attacking. Not a lot of vision.

My fingers are crossed that I'll like Gammage as I learn more about him. If Perry and Strayhorn commit mutual hommicide, I think it's still possible for Gammage to pull it off.

There was a lot of discussion about the Dean Rindy memo (http://www.gammageforgovernor.com/open/rindy_analysisTXGov06.htm) when it came out that somehow it was just a PR move by the Gammage campaign.

Apparently it wasn't hype after all.

Sounds like the Gammage team knows exactly what strategy they need to win. Score one for the veterans of statewide campaigns.

Thats the one thing about Democrats that do miff me. If youre running in a primary and go negative against your opponent, so what? Republicans do the same thing and they move on and get over it after they have a winner. So if Chris Bell wants to use that as his strategy against Bob Gammage, so be it.

But to go on the attack as soon as Gammage enters the race is a little hasty. It shows signs of fear and weakness. And at this point its schoolyard antics of --well Im more pro choice than you are nyeh nyeh nyeh-. Thats not going to win Bell votes.

For Rhett, you bet! Shame there aren't any fields of bluebonnets yet.

One other thing... more people are unfamiliar with Bob Gammage than Rhett Smith? Who the hell are the troglodytes in this sample?!?!

Well Rhett Smith did run for Congress in TX-21 last year. Um, I'm sure that's it.

I have no idea who I'm going to support in 2006.

I was an early Kinky supporter, but his unwillingness to dial for dollars will doom his campaign. Imagine how many people would give Kinky money if he just gave them a personal call. The Jesse Ventura model worked in Minnesota because of same-day voter registration and cheap media buys (there's only one major media market in Minnesota). Media is really expensive in Texas, and to increase VAP turnout from 29% to 39% (as Kinky hopes), then you have to conduct an expensive voter registration field campaign because we don't have same-day voter registration in Texas. Even if 1 million new voters all of sudden decide on election day that Kinky is their hero (the Ventura model), many of those folks will learn that they aren't properly registered. However, if Kinky decides he really wants to be governor, and he starts dialing for dollars at a furious John Sharp-like pace, then he's got a chance. But don't hold your breath because Kinky thinks he'll win just by appearing on Don Imus and Bill O'Reilly.

I once worked for Carole when she was at the Railroad Commission, and I found her to be very down to earth and non-ideological. I don't agree with everything she says, but she's not Rick Perry. She first got in to politics due to her love of teaching, so she shares the concerns of many Democrats. I'm a fan of Jason Stanford and I really like Chris Bell's policies, but my parents remember Bob Gammage with fond memories. So I'm confused.

Like other Democrats in Texas, I'm crossing my fingers that Bell or Gammage can catch fire. But without trial lawyer money and without the teachers, I'm growing more pessimistic. If labor refuses to endrose a Democrat, then all bets are off. I'm supporting the anybody-but-Perry campaign, and if our winning horse turns out to be Kinky or Carole, then we have to accept reality.

Does anybody else think it's interesting that One Tough Grandma is the only one who's favorables double her unfavorables? That's pretty remarkable, considering that most Texas are already familiar with her. Obviously, Perry will try to increase her unfavs, but she's starting off with strong support.

Again, I'm hoping that the Dems can catch fire. But I will do whatever it takes to make sure Perry isn't the longest serving governor in Texas history. As a young Texas Democrat, I've never voted for a winning statewide candidate, and I'm tired of losing. So I'm keeping an open mind in 2006. Anybody but Perry!

"In either case, they are both stuck in 3rd."

Really? Want to check that again? Because I'm pretty sure Gammage is polling in dead last.

Look, anyone who was in Galveston earlier this month and saw these two speak back-to-back on the stage shouldn't have any question as to who we want carrying our banner this fall. Bell blew the doors off the place... he was fiery, funny, charismatic, and exciting. I liked what Gammage had to say, but the contrast between him and Bell was striking. Not nearly as much energy, didn't get nearly the crowd response, and had a message that wasn't really anything different from what Bell has been saying for a year.

Rarely do I agree with Republicans, but John has a point. The whole point of a Primary is to win the nomination for your party. You people need to get a backbone if you think "going negative" is calling out the opponent on his voting record. How the hell are Democrats ever going to win anything if there is no differentiation among candidates? We need a candidate with a backbone and that's why I'm supporting Chris.

Marie:

Part of the problem with Democratic primaries in the past has been negativity and lack of focus on the person to be beaten in November. That's why the majority of Democratic voters really want to see who's best to take on Rick Perry, not the other Democrat.

As for calling it an attack, it was. It was a mischaracterization of Gammage's position on the issue and made it appear that he was broadly against a woman's right to choose (which is certainly isn't). In 1977 he had problems with federal funding for abortion. He's since, even before the current campaign, apologized and changed his position on the issue.

A divisive and nasty primary does no one any good. What would be best is to hear something from Bell's campaign other than 'a pact with parents' to protect us from 'video games'.

Don't get me wrong, I like Chris and have a great deal of respect for him. However, I'm supporting Bob because I feel he has the best ideas and chance to take down Perry. It's not personal.

George: Bob's been out there for a month. Chris has been out there for almost a year. Draw your own conclusions.

I had no idea who Gammage was when he introduced Wesley Clark at a rally in Austin a couple years ago. But I found him extremely compelling and soon found out more. I can't tell you how excited I was to see him file for Governor. I encourage anyone who hasn't learned more about him yet to do so. It isn't often that my dad and I agree on the same politicians. We're both Dems--but he's very old school, a far-west Texas rancher, and I'm very much in love with the Austin version of Texas--but we both love Gammage. We were both going to vote for Kinky as a protest previously, but no longer. I don't have anything against Chris Bell. I just don't think he will appeal to enough people across the board to have a chance against Perry in November.

Alvarado was the D frontrunner until his check bounced. Now Gammage or Bell is likely to advance to November. Plus, it's too late for Chip Staniswalis to get on the ballot.

Marie,

I've heard that Bell supported drilling in Anwar (when he voted for Bush's energy bill), the bankruptcy bill (look who his contributors were in 2004 for why he did that) and refused to vote for raising minimum wage in the city of Houston when he was on the city council.

Saying so, according to you, apparently isn't 'negative'.... just a difference on the issues.....

I'd be interested in hearing more about these votes and the reasons that you believe they were a plus for your guy.