Thread: Texas Gov. Race - Bell wants Kinky to drop out

I'm hooting it up over this.
Sounds like some career politicians are afraid of a guy named Kinky!

Dixie
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Article www.wfaa.com

Bell wants Kinky to drop out

08:27 PM CDT on Tuesday, October 10, 2006

By ROBERT T. GARRETT and GROMER JEFFERS JR. / The Dallas Morning News

Texas Gubernatorial Debate (full debate)
Video

Democratic nominee Chris Bell is trying to persuade independent Kinky Friedman to quit the race for governor, but Mr. Friedman insisted Tuesday that he's in to stay.

Mr. Bell left a voice mail message on Mr. Friedman's personal cellphone Tuesday, asking for a meeting at the mystery writer and former bandleader's ranch near Kerrville, Mr. Friedman said.

Mr. Bell later confirmed he sought a meeting so he could try to talk Mr. Friedman into dropping out of the four-way race, which is in its home stretch. The election is Nov. 7.

Bell campaign aides said that Mr. Friedman performed poorly in Friday night's candidate debate and that Friedman supporters have told the Democrat that they'd support him if he could persuade Mr. Friedman to step aside.

Mr. Bell said he placed the call at his staff's request. He acknowledged that Mr. Friedman is siphoning votes away from him and Republican Gov. Rick Perry.

"He's taking from both," Mr. Bell said. "But he's taking more from me."

Mr. Friedman, campaigning in Brownsville, said of Mr. Bell and his advisers: "They're desperate and scrambling."

Asked whether he would consider the Democrat's arguments for stepping aside, Mr. Friedman said: "No. You're kidding, for Chris Bell. What do you take me for?"

Mr. Bell, Mr. Friedman and independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn each trail far behind Mr. Perry, according to a recent Dallas Morning News poll of likely voters that shows them bunched in a pack with less than 20 percent support each. But Mr. Bell's debate performance has won generally strong reviews, giving the Democrat hope he can emerge as the main challenger to Mr. Perry.

Mr. Friedman, who acknowledged he "didn't bring my A game" to Friday's debate, insisted he still finds strong support everywhere he travels this week. And he believes he can win a plurality of votes – all that is needed to win – if the anti-incumbent mood he sees sweeping the nation uplifts voter turnout in Texas.

To drop out is unthinkable, he said: "I'd be letting a lot of people down."

But he took delight in Mr. Bell's message that the independent is taking a toll.

"What can it possibly mean other than that we're killing him?" Mr. Friedman said. "We're getting all of the liberals. We're getting all of the conservatives."

Mr. Bell, who stopped in Dallas on Tuesday evening for two campaign events, apparently planned to discuss the two men's common criticism of Mr. Perry's policies and appeal for a united effort. Mr. Friedman, though, has argued that Mr. Bell is a standard politician, just like Mr. Perry and Mrs. Strayhorn, the state comptroller.

Mr. Bell acknowledged that he has little leverage over Mr. Friedman, other than to discuss what's best for the state.

"I'm not going to tell anybody what they should do," he said.

Robert T. Garrett reported from Brownsville and Gromer Jeffers Jr. reported from Houston.

E-mail rtgarrett@dallasnews.com and gjeffers@dallasnews.com

Mr. Bell, Mr. Friedman and independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn each trail far behind Mr. Perry

Who is best for our cause?

Good Question!

They all stink. Bell is the Democrat and you know where that will go... OBL - Comprehensive....

Kinky is the one that talks the toughest and he's a wild hair. Perry is too little too late and Strayhorn is weak. I don't think we can take much more of Perry's Trans TX Corridor.

This is so messed up.

Dixie

I don't think we can take much more of Perry's Trans TX Corridor.

Take out the machine behind that highway to hell plan and all Americans will be better off.

Kinky's quotes on the matter were classic. When asked about Bell's proposal (that Friedman drop out), Kinky said, "Our policy is that we do not negotiate with terrorists."

Friedman was also asked to comment on the fact that Bell had suggested that the two should work together to defeat the "common enemy" represented by Gov. Rick Perry. Friedman said, "Perry is not the only enemy. Crips, Bloods, it's all the same," thereby comparing the two major parties to rival street gangs.

This will be an election to remember.

Originally Posted by CrocketsGhost

Kinky's quotes on the matter were classic. When asked about Bell's proposal (that Friedman drop out), Kinky said, "Our policy is that we do not negotiate with terrorists."

Friedman was also asked to comment on the fact that Bell had suggested that the two should work together to defeat the "common enemy" represented by Gov. Rick Perry. Friedman said, "Perry is not the only enemy. Crips, Bloods, it's all the same," thereby comparing the two major parties to rival street gangs.

This will be an election to remember.