Don't do us any favors

Thanks, but no thanks.

Kinky Friedman might run again for governor in 2010, conceivably as a Democrat.

"I'm open to running," Friedman said Wednesday before cautioning that he won't settle plans until after the 2008 elections.

"Had I run as a Democrat last time, I think (Gov.) Rick Perry would already be (out of office as) a lobbyist for a cigar company," he said.

The black-hatted humorist, who has a book coming out on his flashy 2006 campaign, said he realized after finishing with 12.4 percent of the vote that Texans wouldn't embrace an independent. Perry, a Republican, won re-election with 39 percent. Democrat Chris Bell drew 30 percent, and independent Carole Keeton Strayhorn pulled 18 percent.

Glad as I am to see that Kinky has finally realized what any idiot could have told him in 2005, I have no desire to ever see another Kinky for Governor campaign. I can't imagine supporting him to be the nominee under any realistic scenario for 2010 - basically, unless my only other choice is Gene Kelly or the like, I ain't voting for Kinky. I think pretty much everybody expects Houston Mayor Bill White to be the Democratic nominee for Governor in 2010, and I also think that once he announces, he will get at most token opposition in a primary; I'd count a Kinky candidacy as "token", as well.

Now if Kinky wants to run for, I don't know, Railroad Commissioner or something like that, we can talk. But Governor? Forget it.

Boyd Richie, chairman of the Texas Democratic Party, said Wednesday, "I would expect he'd have considerable opposition; a lot of people still resent the fact that if he really wanted to make a difference, he could have run as a Democrat last time" or dropped out, possibly helping Bell pick up votes.

Democratic consultant Kelly Fero said voters will be in a serious mood in 2010: "They're going to be looking for real serious, legitimate candidates. Kinky should throw his cigar in the ring if he thinks he fits that profile."

I agree with both gentlemen on all counts. Note that I'm not saying that had Kinky dropped out and endorsed Bell that this would have been enough for Bell to win. Kinky had a fair amount of Republican support, and most if not all of that would not have transferred to Bell under that circumstance. That said, had he competed in the primary, and then supported Bell after losing, who knows? We never will, and that's the point. The Observer has more.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on August 09, 2007 to Election 2010