Chris Bell,
Kinky Friedman,
Rick Perry, and
Carole Keeton Strayhorn hit television together Friday night. It was actually sort of interesting.
The only televised debate of this year's Texas contest for governor was held Friday night in Dallas. The Dallas Morning News (the flagship of the Belo Corp., sole sponsor of the debate) includes an online video of the hour-long debate.
Nothing that happened during the single gubernatorial debate made news, beyond the perfunctory stories everybody has to run simply because they staffed an event with reporters and photographers. Remember: Where you find a gaggle of reporters, you will later find stories, whether or not news was committed.
Normal Texans who watched might be a bit more educated about the candidates, but probably didn't see much they were still talking about 24 hours later. The debate didn't jump outside of its box. After the first round of stories, nothing that happened at that forum got repeated on the news, and talk of it — even in political circles — was fairly muted (that said, the sponsors claim the ratings were pretty good for a Friday night, topping competing programs in Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, and San Antonio).
Mark it as a win for the incumbent, Gov. Rick Perry. He didn't make news with a mistake (nor did anyone else, though a couple of answers could have tripped a front-runner). And neither Chris Bell, Kinky Friedman, nor Carole Keeton Strayhorn buried an arrow into any meaningful target.
Bell came off best of the three challengers. Strayhorn appeared nervous and her answers to questions wandered, except in cases where she could fall into the words and rhythms she's been using in stump speeches and ads. Friedman rambled and seemed both overwhelmed and unprepared for the hour-long appearance.
Had Friedman or Strayhorn entered the debate as the frontrunner — with the expectations that attend that position — their performances would have made news and their campaigns would have taken a hit. As it stands, they both missed a chance to catch the attention of voters. Bell, on the other hand, looked serious and didn't blow it. He outdid the other challengers.
How it played in the papers the next day:
Perry, Bell strong in debate/Challengers attack incumbent on education, toll roads and property taxes
By CHRISTY HOPPE / The Dallas Morning News, 10/7/6
Rick Perry fended off competitors who challenged his leadership on education, his push for toll roads, and his coziness with lobbyists during the only debate of the campaign for governor.
Analysis: Challengers miss big chance to define themselves
By GROMER JEFFERS Jr. / The Dallas Morning News, 10/7/6
The candidates for governor got one good shot Friday night to define themselves before Texas voters. But they did little to change the pictures already forming in voters' minds. Gov. Rick Perry and Democrat Chris Bell scored some points and avoided major damage, but none of the four major candidates sufficiently cleared up the questions facing their campaigns.
Little debate, much sniping/Jabs fly from all sides on issues ranging from foes' fitness for office to taxes, toll roads
By R.G. RATCLIFFE and CLAY ROBISON, Houston Chronicle, 10/7/6
DALLAS -- The only debate of the Texas governor's race Friday rarely pushed the four major candidates beyond their campaign rhetoric as they tried to portray each other as unfit for the state's highest office.
The Houston Chronicle/San Antonio Express-News Texas Politics blog also had coverage of the debate and the scene around it.
Belo wouldn't let Libertarian James Werner on stage, so the Austin American-Statesman gave him a slot in their blogs and promoted it on their front page. His stuff is here.
Perry on the defensive in debates/Challengers take shots on TAKS, tolls and spending; don't spare each other.
By W. Gardner Selby, Jason Embry, Ausin American-Statesman Staff, 10/7/6
DALLAS -- Knowing they have a scant month remaining to win over voters, three gubernatorial hopefuls tangled Friday night with Gov. Rick Perry over a swath of issues in the only televised debate of their race.
Different format, same stump speeches
By JOHN MORITZ, ANNA M. TINSLEY and AMAN BATHEJA, Fort Worth
Star-Telegram Staff Writers, 10/7/6
DALLAS -- The four leading candidates for governor clawed for attention Friday night, with each staking out contrasting views on how to combat illegal immigration, improve Texas' public schools and change the ethical climate in Austin.
Gubernatorial candidates square off in debate
By JOHN MORITZ, ANNA M. TINSLEY and AMAN BATHEJA, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Staff Writers, 10/7/6
DALLAS -- Texas' four main gubernatorial candidates laid out their positions on immigration, property tax relief, public education -- even racial comments -- during the only gubernatorial debate this political season.
Texas governor candidates take part in crowded debate
KELLEY SHANNON, Associated Press, 10/7/6
DALLAS -- Republican Gov. Rick Perry defended a school property tax cut passed in a recent special legislative session as substantial, but independent challenger Carole Keeton Strayhorn called it "paltry" in their televised debate Friday. The showdown came early in the gubernatorial candidates' one and only scheduled debate and during questioning by a panel of journalists.
Highlights from the Texas gubernatorial debate
Associated Press, 10/7/6
Here are key moments and exchanges from the Texas gubernatorial debate Friday night.
Candidates for governor face off in Dallas (includes video links to stories and to the entire debate)
By BRAD WATSON / WFAA-TV, 10/7/6
They talked about the issues: immigration, education and ethics in office. And they also criticized one another. The four front-running candidates for Texas governor faced off Friday night in a debate televised statewide and sponsored by Belo, the parent company of WFAA.com and Channel 8.