- Jul 25, 2002
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Cash Wars
Scotty McClellen's Mom has left the Republican Party in a bid to become the Governor of Texas.
GOP Politics wouldn't let her run in a Primary against Perry, so she declared as an Independant.
There was a 'spelling error' in her name: Strahorn (left out the Y) and the GOP attempted to get her disqualified for that.
The laywers got the right paperwork submitted in time, and a judge let her stay in the race as an Independant.
So now the Democratic 'Money Machine' in Texas see their best bet of getting Perry out of office is to back her.
Where's Kinky Friedman when you really need a change ?
<CLIP>
Bernard Rapoport is a loyal Democrat who has helped bankroll a generation of party candidates. This year, he's putting his money on Republican Carole Keeton Strayhorn.
"The thing we have to worry about right now is who has a shot," said the Waco insurance executive. "And the only two people who seem to have a shot at it are Strayhorn and [Gov. Rick] Perry."
Mr. Rapoport is not alone among Democratic donors who face a dilemma in this year's governor's race: By backing Mrs. Strayhorn's independent bid, they are draining money from the nominee of a party that badly needs rebuilding.
A Dallas Morning News analysis of Mrs. Strayhorn's latest campaign report found that more than half of her largest contributions in the just-ended reporting period came from givers with a history of backing Democrats. About 12 percent came from reliable Republican donors. Contributors who have given to both parties accounted for 16 percent of her money.
Many of Mrs. Strayhorn's givers are longtime sources of Democratic money, not only big-dollar trial lawyers who have filled her campaign coffers but also party stalwarts.
Over the past two reporting periods, they include Mr. Rapoport ($10,000); former Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes ($20,000); Austin auto dealer Roger Beasley ($10,000); McAllen beer distributor Greg LaMantia ($51,000); McAllen travel-center executive Joe Phillips ($25,000); and Dallas investment adviser Cappy McGarr ($6,000).
"It's worse than sad. It's damn near tragic," said Charles Elliott, a political science professor at Texas A&M University at Commerce and a former member of the State Democratic Executive Committee.
"Some fairly heavy hitters and middle-sized Democrats are throwing money at her ... and we have absolutely nothing with which to entice them on our end."
Former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell and former Supreme Court Justice Bob Gammage are vying to represent the party's long-shot efforts in a state where a Democrat hasn't won statewide office since 1994. Spokesmen for Mr. Gammage and Mr. Bell said they are confident they will have sufficient money to challenge Mr. Perry in November.
"The Democratic donor base has yet to figure out that it would be easier to walk barefoot over the Himalayas in winter than it will be for Carole Strayhorn to get elected governor of Texas," said Jason Stanford, a spokesman for Mr. Bell. "Politics is a futures game. We're focused on how we get there."
Jeremy Warren, a spokesman for Mr. Gammage, said the eventual Democratic nominee must convince voters he is a viable candidate.
"What's happening is that money is going to the 'anybody but Perry' contingent, which right now is Strayhorn," he said. "It's our job to demonstrate that a Democrat can be a credible opponent and can win. And right now folks don't believe that."
Singer and author Kinky Friedman is also running as an independent for governor.
Scotty McClellen's Mom has left the Republican Party in a bid to become the Governor of Texas.
GOP Politics wouldn't let her run in a Primary against Perry, so she declared as an Independant.
There was a 'spelling error' in her name: Strahorn (left out the Y) and the GOP attempted to get her disqualified for that.
The laywers got the right paperwork submitted in time, and a judge let her stay in the race as an Independant.
So now the Democratic 'Money Machine' in Texas see their best bet of getting Perry out of office is to back her.
Where's Kinky Friedman when you really need a change ?
<CLIP>
Bernard Rapoport is a loyal Democrat who has helped bankroll a generation of party candidates. This year, he's putting his money on Republican Carole Keeton Strayhorn.
"The thing we have to worry about right now is who has a shot," said the Waco insurance executive. "And the only two people who seem to have a shot at it are Strayhorn and [Gov. Rick] Perry."
Mr. Rapoport is not alone among Democratic donors who face a dilemma in this year's governor's race: By backing Mrs. Strayhorn's independent bid, they are draining money from the nominee of a party that badly needs rebuilding.
A Dallas Morning News analysis of Mrs. Strayhorn's latest campaign report found that more than half of her largest contributions in the just-ended reporting period came from givers with a history of backing Democrats. About 12 percent came from reliable Republican donors. Contributors who have given to both parties accounted for 16 percent of her money.
Many of Mrs. Strayhorn's givers are longtime sources of Democratic money, not only big-dollar trial lawyers who have filled her campaign coffers but also party stalwarts.
Over the past two reporting periods, they include Mr. Rapoport ($10,000); former Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes ($20,000); Austin auto dealer Roger Beasley ($10,000); McAllen beer distributor Greg LaMantia ($51,000); McAllen travel-center executive Joe Phillips ($25,000); and Dallas investment adviser Cappy McGarr ($6,000).
"It's worse than sad. It's damn near tragic," said Charles Elliott, a political science professor at Texas A&M University at Commerce and a former member of the State Democratic Executive Committee.
"Some fairly heavy hitters and middle-sized Democrats are throwing money at her ... and we have absolutely nothing with which to entice them on our end."
Former U.S. Rep. Chris Bell and former Supreme Court Justice Bob Gammage are vying to represent the party's long-shot efforts in a state where a Democrat hasn't won statewide office since 1994. Spokesmen for Mr. Gammage and Mr. Bell said they are confident they will have sufficient money to challenge Mr. Perry in November.
"The Democratic donor base has yet to figure out that it would be easier to walk barefoot over the Himalayas in winter than it will be for Carole Strayhorn to get elected governor of Texas," said Jason Stanford, a spokesman for Mr. Bell. "Politics is a futures game. We're focused on how we get there."
Jeremy Warren, a spokesman for Mr. Gammage, said the eventual Democratic nominee must convince voters he is a viable candidate.
"What's happening is that money is going to the 'anybody but Perry' contingent, which right now is Strayhorn," he said. "It's our job to demonstrate that a Democrat can be a credible opponent and can win. And right now folks don't believe that."
Singer and author Kinky Friedman is also running as an independent for governor.
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