TX-Gov: White (D) leads big in money race

[WI_DEM]

This isn't the sort of thing we're supposed to see this supposed Republican year.

Democrat Bill White beat 10-year incumbent Rick Perry in the latest round of fundraising and goes into the fall campaign with a $3 million advantage.

In his bid to unseat Perry, White raised $7.4 million since the March primary. The Republican governor collected $7.1 million.

But spending demands on Perry in the fractious GOP primary against Kay Bailey Hutchison have left him trailing in cash on hand as the nominees look to the November general election.

The former Houston mayor has $9 million in his campaign treasury while Perry has $5.9 million in the bank.

"Momentum is building," White campaign spokesman Katy Bacon said. "People want somebody in Austin who will work for Texas, not a career politician who's in it for himself."

If the numbers look huge to you, it's because they are. Texas doesn't have pesky campaign contribution limits, so you get things like this:

Perry also collected $250,000 from Bass family interests in Fort Worth. Sid Bass gave $100,000, Lee Bass gave $50,000 and the family's political committees contributed $100,000.

About 20 percent of Perry's money came from 25 wealthy donors who gave at least $50,000 each.

This is still Texas, and it's a tough year for Democrats, but we've got a great, well-funded candidate in Bill White, and the GOP is stuck with a tired incumbent in Rick Perry who was forced to move hard-right to win his primary. Had Republicans nominated Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, this wouldn't be much of a race. But like in so many other places, the teabaggers have created a competitive race were none should exist. And White is clearly taking advantage of the situation.

www.dailykos.com

[babylonsister]

1. Excellent! Go, Bill White! nt

[ceile]

2. We're very exicted about our chances this year.

They are in a statistical dead heat at the moment 43% each.

[n2doc]

6. You don't know just how satisfying it would be to see Goodhair go down

This from a former Texan who had to endure both W and Goodhair's regimes. Kick him out!

[Richardo]

3. A big rec!

[livetohike]

4. K & R for Texas!

:kick:

[catgirl]

5. K & R

[bigdarryl]

7. what's the poll numbers out there

[blogslut]

8. The latest from Rasmussen

...has Perry @ 50% and White @ 41%

http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/elections/election_2010/election_2010_governor_elections/texas/election_2010_texas_governor

Last month, Public Policy Polling had them tied @ 43%

http://startelegram.typepad.com/politex/2010/06/perry-and-white-are-tied-in-governors-race-says-new-poll.html

Naturally, Rasmussen leans right so there's that. The fact that the gap is less than 10 percent by Rasmussen standards is a damned good sign for Bill White.

IMPO, I think Texas is sick of Goodhair. The only reason he won last time (with only 39% of the vote) was because of those two spoilers, Dick Friedman and Scott McClellen's mom. Bill White will win because he's got real money to spread all over the state - not just the big cities.

[KingFlorez]

9. A win in Texas would really be amazing

This is the last place the GOP wants to lose, it would be real blow to them if they lost this one.

[impik]

10. Wow, just imagine if we can take Texas!

[vercetti2021]

11. Damn!!

Go White make me proud to be texan again!!!