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Greg Abbott brings staunch conservatism, toughness to race for governor, but lacks Perry bravado
[DALLASNEWS] Those who know Greg Abbott describe him as a fighter -- a happy warrior with a fierce determination, molded by fate, hardened by a crack in a windstorm.The admired "can-do" attitude has led him to claim the early front-runner's mantle for Texas governor in a campaign he'll formally launch Sunday. But for all of the fresh smells of a new campaign, it occupies the same well-trod, political turf held so long by Rick Perry. On issues -- fighting abortion, divisions between church and state, federal programs and gun control -- little daylight separates the two. Abbott has consistently taken conservative positions that the base of the state Republican Party favors. For campaign contributions, they fish in the same pond. An analysis of the last reports they filed with the state showed that Perry and Abbott tapped 140 of the same donors who gave more than $200. There are differences, mainly stylistic. Abbott lacks the Perry bravado, but those who know him say his less-assuming ways belie a quick mind and steelier resolve. Political consultant and lobbyist Bill Miller called Abbott and Perry "two peas in a pod." But Miller, a veteran of Texas politics and a former University of Oklahoma football player, said there's something different about Abbott. "He's tough. That's the quality I'd associate most with him. He's got a toughness. I mean he's nice, but he's real, real tough," Miller said. Abbott, after a decade as attorney general and seven years as a Texas Supreme Court justice, will be reintroducing himself to voters starting Sunday in a five-day, 10-city tour. Abbott is known among tea party and Republican activists as a mentor of U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and the co-pilot in Perry's anti-Washington crusade. He's raised more than $20 million so far for this campaign, with big chunks coming from conservative businessmen and investors who like his low-regulation mantra. While Abbott has won statewide office five times in less than 20 years, polls show that even many Texas Republicans don't know enough about him to formulate an opinion. He has put together a formidable campaign team, funding operation and hyper social media platform to change that. His one current rival, former GOP state chairman Tom Pauken, already has dubbed him the "anointed one." Abbott also prompted an early assessment from the liberal Mother Jones magazine: "a replacement who may just do the impossible -- make progressives miss Rick Perry." And yet Democrats are still scrambling to field a candidate who could counter the state's heavy Republican tilt. Posted by: Fred 2013-07-14 |
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