Texas AG Says He May Consider Running For Governor
ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) – Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott may be considering a campaign to land him in the governor's seat in 2014.
According to The Shorthorn –– the University of Texas at Arlington's student newspaper –– Abbott last week announced the possibility he would "explore" running for governor while speaking to the Movin' Mavs, the Dallas Mavericks and the U.S. Army wheelchair basketball teams.
UTA Political Science professor Allan Saxe says Perry's disappointing presidential campaign makes him vulnerable.
"He has alienated, rightly or wrongly, some very powerful constituencies around the state," Saxe said.
Abbott's campaign manager says the attorney general continues to keep his future options open.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Todd Staples is already campaigning for Lt. Governor on the same kind of theme that could target Gov. Perry. Another thing that could count against Perry, Saxe says, is how long he's served in the state's top job.
"Even within the Republican party, a lot of people may be saying to Gov. Perry, 'Enough is enough. You've already been the longest serving governor in the state; it's time to bow out gracefully,'" Saxe said.
When asked about the possibility, Staples praised both Perry and Abbott but said he would wait for a more substantive declaration from the attorney general before commenting further.
"You know, I don't know; it'll be interesting to see how this develops," Staples said. "Both are great leaders, we'll just have to see what plays out here."
The Lt. Gov. position Staples is campaigning will be empty by election time –– current Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is running for a U.S. Senate seat.
