White takes on border security in latest TV ad

09/09/2010

Associated Press


TITLE: "Border Security"

LENGTH: 30 seconds.

AIRING: Started airing Wednesday in unspecified markets.

SCRIPT: Democratic gubernatorial candidate Bill White: "We believe that federal immigration laws should be enforced. We believe Texans believe that we need federal help in securing that border.

"Rick Perry has been governor for nine-and-a-half years. You would think that he would have been able to get some of the federal resources that he now claims that we needed all these years.

"As governor, I'll put 1,000 more police officers and deputy sheriffs all along our border, arresting the gang members, the drug dealers and let them know things aren't safe for them in Texas.

"I'm Bill White. I'm in it for Texas."

KEY IMAGES: The ad features White, wearing a casual chambray, button-down shirt, speaking to someone not seen on camera. Footage of White is peppered with images of a waving Texas flag and scenes from the border, including a busted fence and a photo of an angry-looking Mexican man in a cowboy hat.

ANALYSIS: Taking on border security, one of Republican Gov. Rick Perry's marquis issues, could be a risky move for White. With this ad, White is betting that he can win over Republicans who care about border security but are dissatisfied with Perry overall. But, he runs the risk of alienating Democrats, especially with the opening line that could invoke visions of Arizona-style enforcement of federal immigration laws.

Perry has spent years crafting an image for himself as a leader on border security. White says in the ad, "we need federal help in securing that border," which is a message that Perry has been delivering for most of his tenure. But, by White telling Texans what he believes they believe isn't telling the viewer much and it's an odd way to deliver the message.

Perry has pleaded for more troops and repeatedly hammered Congress and the White House for not pouring enough federal resources into border security. He has sought and received millions from the Texas Legislature for border security, claiming that the state has to fill the gap left by the federal government. Some of that money went to a string of crime fighting initiatives Perry has launched since 2006, including Operation Rio Grande, Operation Wrangler and most recently, the Ranger Recon program, which deploys elite teams of Texas Rangers to the border to deal with increasing violence.

Along the way, the federal government has committed more resources to the border. Last month, President Barack Obama signed a bill providing $600 million in funding for more agents, unmanned drones and customs officers.

While critics have questioned whether Perry's policies have reduced crime along the border, White's ad only shows voters that White cares about border security, too, but does not effectively set him apart from Perry on the issue.

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