Tx Tribune rpts:
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Tom Schieffer is getting out of the race this afternoon, sources said Monday morning. "He just couldn't put it together," said one.
"I can't comment," said Clay Robison, Schieffer's spokesman. Schieffer didn't immediately return calls. A short time later, they called a press conference for 3 p.m. this afternoon.
Schieffer is the self-styled establishment candidate in a Democratic primary where no one has really gained traction. Kinky Friedman had more support in the University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll earlier this month, but 55 percent of Democratic primary voters said they hadn't yet chosen a candidate.
The Houston Chronicle reports that Bill White is now shifting to the Gov race.
White has been firm as recently as last week that he would not switch from the U.S. Senate race to the governor's race. But when Republican U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison announced that she would not resign to run for governor, it made the prospects of a race switch more likely for White because no special election was immediately available.
Also, because Hutchison has said she will resign in March, it gives White two bites at the apple. He can run for governor, and even if he gets the nomination, he could still run in a Senate special election. If he won the Senate seat, then the State Democratic Executive Committee could name his replacement in the governor's race.
That scenario delineated in the Chron entry-with White gaming the system to be able to run for Gov AND run for Senate is a bit troubling to me-though I like Bill White's approach in the nascent Senate race.
Because if there's an argument to be made that Democrats are out for the main chance, it's made by a top of the ticket that is just marking time till he gets a chance at the job he really wants.
If Democrats don't act differently from Republicans, why should anyone care which party runs Texas?
So, IOW, in or out. Pick the job you want, and make your case, Bill.
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