Fort Worth Democrat Tom Schieffer announced today he is quitting his bid for governor, clearing the way for Houston Mayor Bill White to enter the race.Schieffer touted White as a Democrat who could appeal to "a broad spectrum of Texas voters" tired of "the pettiness and partisanship we've had over the last nine years" under Republican Rick Perry.
"We have to get behind one candidate who can unite the Democratic Party and offer a credible candidate to voters next fall," Schieffer told a Capitol news conference.
White is expected to abandon his campaign for U.S. Senate and jump into the gubernatorial contest by next week.
Texas Democrats never warmed to Schieffer because of his longtime ties to George W. Bush. Schieffer was a partner with Bush in running the Texas Rangers baseball team and after Bush was elected president, Scheiffer was appointed ambassador to Australia and Japan. Further, Schieffer struggled to raise the money for a successful statewide campaign.
His departure would leave humorist Kinky Friedman, hair-care magnate Farouk Shami, schoolteacher Felix Alvarado and rancher Hank Gilbert as announced gubernatorial candidates on the Democratic side.
Democrats have not elected a statewide candidate in Texas since 1994. But as mayor of Houston, White has high name-identification in that metropolitan area, which constitutes a quarter of the electorate. Further, White's month's-long bid to replace Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison in the Senate once she resigns has allowed him to cultivate Democratic voters.
"I will tell you, there is an opportunity for a Democrat to be elected this time," said Schieffer. "And I hope the demo party will rally to the notion they can win.
"They have too long accepted the thought that it's a lost cause. But I absolutely believe that someone of Mayor White's caliber can win. I also believe that if they do not offer someone of Mayor Whitee's caliber, they will lose and lose badly," he said.
Hutchison has said she will remain in the Senate through the March GOP primary while running for governor against Perry.
Family, friends and campaign workers gathered at the Capitol for Schieffer's announcement that he's qutting the race, eight months after he announced his bid. A lawyer and former state legislator from Fort Worth, he had strong credentials in private business and public life, but he had trouble in some Democratic circles shaking his association with Bush.