More on Radnofsky for AG

Barbara Radnofsky talks to Gardner Selby about her intent to run for Attorney General in 2010.

Radnofsky said Thursday she's going to run next year for attorney general, starting with an Austin fund-raiser Tuesday featuring nine Democratic state representatives (all 74 Dems were contacted, Radnofsky said, but most may be session-swamped).

Reminded that the past three Democratic aspirants for attorney general drew no more than 44 percent of the November vote, Radnofsky replied: "You're mired in the past."

Radnofsky stressed research gathered last year suggesting that Texas voters are identify themselves as Democrats than Republicans. Tracking polls analyzed by the Gallup organization found that 43 percent of Texans see themselves as Democrats compared to 41 percent of Republicans.

"The face of the state has changed," she said.

Obviously, I believe the face of the state is changing, but as I said before where we've mostly seen this is in the downballot races between unknown, unfunded Democrats and unknown, unfunded Republicans. A race between a Dem with some name ID and campaign resources and a non-incumbent Republican with same, which is what we may get if current AG Greg Abbott aims at a higher office, could build on that dynamic and maybe persuade a few more of those people who say they're calling themselves Democrats to vote for one in a statewide race.

That assumes, of course, that Radnofsky or whoever the nominee is can raise the dough needed for that. She seems to be taking a step in that direction.

New-hires on her side: Fund-raising consultant Jim Cunningham of Kentucky, pollster Andre Pineda of Los Angeles and direct-mail consultant Kevin Geary, who heads the Philadelphia office of the Baughman Group. Radnofsky said she's hunting for a TV advertising consultant.

Interesting that she's going out of state, but when you realize there are essentially no Dem consultants here with experience winning statewide in the past decade or more, it's not so surprising. I'll be very interested to see how they do.

Separately, I've heard chatter that other Democrats could yet test the waters for AG including state Reps. Trey Martinez Fischer of San Antonio, Pete Gallego of Alpine and state Sens. Royce West of Dallas and Kirk Watson of Austin, the party's AG nominee in 2002. Republicans in the mix could include Ted Cruz, the state's former solicitor-general (who's already raising money and exploring a try), state Rep. Dan Branch of Dallas and Justice Dale Wainwright of the Texas Supreme Court.

Radnofsky said she'd be happy not having a major primary opponent. Referring to the perennial Universal City candidate with a dancer's name whom she beat in a 2006 runoff, she said: "If the only opponent ended up being Gene Kelly, that'd be OK."

Lots of new names on the might-run list; here's some confirmation of Sen. West's potential interest. As I said before, I'll be perfectly happy to see contested primaries statewide, and if one of them involves a well-known figure like Ronnie Earle, so much the better. Among other things, spirited primaries will raise everyone's profile, and will keep Dems out of the Republican primary, where some folks are considering a vote for KBH just to make sure we're in the final days of Rick Perry's reign. I understand BAR's preference, but I say come one, come all. As long as we fill out the ticket with quality candidates, it's all good.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on May 19, 2009 to Election 2010