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October 21, 2004
Governor Issues Call to Arms
for Battleground Volunteers
GOP Candidates
Get Helping Hand from Perry
for Final Stretch of General Election Campaign
By
Mike Hailey
Capitol
Inside Editor
Texas Republicans have finally gone to their not-so-secret
major weapon in the final two weeks of the general election
campaign.
Governor Rick Perry.
In a call to arms for GOP partisans across the state, Perry
on behalf the Texas Victory 2004 committee has issued an
email plea for help in an effort to "activate other
dedicated GOP Team Leaders and volunteers such as yourself
during the final 72 hours of this very important campaign."
But the third Republican governor in modern times is offering
more than just cheerleader rhetoric in the effort that's
aimed at recruiting volunteers to fan out to targeted areas
where GOP candidates are locked in tight races in the closing
stretch before the November 2 election. He suggests that
the Republican's coordinated Victory campaign might be able
to foot the bill for food, lodging and travel for recruits
who volunteer their services to help get out the GOP vote
in battleground areas during the final three days of the
race.
That beats the deal that President George W. Bush's
campaign has given Texans who will scatter across the nation
to swing states as part of the "mighty strike forces"
within the next few days. The Bush-Cheney recruits get to
pay their own way for volunteer efforts that will go down
as in-kind contributions to the campaign.
"As you know, this election is critical to our future.
We need your help to make sure our entire Republican Ticket
gets elected on November 2nd," Perry said in his email.
"Please join me in helping secure our future by helping
during the final 72 hours."
Helping hands from statewide officials like Perry - whether
it be for fundraising, voter turnout or other elements of
the fall campaign - is a critical advantage that Republicans
have over their Democratic rivals in this day and age in
the Lone Star State. Republican Lieutenant Governor David
Dewhurst emerged during the summer and fall as
a marquee fundraising draw at events for GOP state House
incumbents and a few challengers who are battling Democrats
in contests that could swing either way. House Speaker Tom
Craddick has had starring roles at fundraisers
for Texas House Republican members and challengers in recent
weeks. Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs
has been the featured guest at fundraisers for Republican
challengers as well this year.
Now the governor is working vigorously to help candidates
in the high-profile races for the Texas House and Congress
by appearing at fundraisers and giving backup support with
direct mail and other publicity measures. Perry in the past
week has stumped for candidates such as Terry Arnold,
a Corpus Christi businessman who some Republican strategists
say is in position for a possible come-from-behind victory
against Democrat Abel Herrero in the House
District 34 race. Herrero knocked State Rep. Jaime
Capelo out of the running in the spring primary
election. Perry made a pitch for Arnold at a Bush-Cheney
rally this week after hosting a barbecue dinner for the
GOP House hopeful a week ago. The governor has rallied to
the aid of incumbent Republicans such as State Reps. Ken
Mercer of San Antonio and Jack Stick
of Austin. Perry plans to attend fundraising events within
the coming week for State Reps. Bryan Hughes
of Mineola and Talmadge Heflin of Houston
and challengers Roy Blake Jr. of Nacogdoches
and Eric Opiela of Karnes City.
While helping GOP candidates raise funds for the final
stretch, Perry also is turning from donors to activists
for the critical GOTV phase of the general election. "I
cannot stress enough the importance of this critical time
in our nation’s history," the governor declares
in the recruiting email. "We NEED your help TODAY to
ensure a prosperous future."
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