Davis swings hard in debate but doesn’t rattle Abbott

[TexasTowelie]

EDINBURG — Wendy Davis came out swinging in the first debate in the race for governor Friday, accusing her rival of hurting schoolchildren and helping to repress votes. But she failed to rattle a poised Greg Abbott.

The Democrat, trailing in polls and wanting to pump energy into her campaign, used the debate as a high-stakes gambit to paint the Republican attorney general as being for big-money contributors. She addressed him directly, accusing him in a measured voice and a frequent smile, while painting herself as a champion for the less advantaged, particularly on education.

“The [funding] cuts that you’re defending that have left our classrooms overcrowded, that have left our teachers laid off — that’s not liberal, that’s not conservative, that’s just dumb,” said Davis, a state senator from Fort Worth.

Abbott said that he wants to move Texas schools beyond an outdated, “one-size-fits-all” funding method and make Texas first in the nation, especially in concentrating on younger students.

Read more: http://www.dallasnews.com/news/politics/headlines/20140919-davis-swings-hard-in-debate-but-doesnt-rattle-abbott.ece

[yeoman6987]

1. I hate this article

Not only is it completely disrespectful to future Governor Davis, but it makes her sound like a raving lunatic which I doubt she presented herself as such. I am getting a lot of woman bashing in the article. Am I reading into things?????

[TexasTowelie]

2. I agree with you.

I'm a bit surprised since I tend to think that Christy Hoppe is more objective than what we are reading. I'll see if I can find some other perspectives online.

[TexasTowelie]

3. Another perspective from the McAllen Monitor:

EDINBURG — When the candidates for governor moved off the border discussion Friday evening, Republican Greg Abbott and Democrat Wendy Davis tied each other to unpopular figures and actions on their opponents’ side.

Local issues took center stage in the statewide debate from the beginning. The evening’s first question, in the first debate for governor held in the Rio Grande Valley, came from Monitor editor Carlos Sanchez and asked the candidates about the reputation of the Valley after a surge of statewide law enforcement descended on the region.

Davis, a state senator from Forth (sic) Worth, played to the home crowd, namedropping Hidalgo County Sheriff Eddie Guerra and County Judge Ramon Garcia in saying she would listen more closely to local leaders. Then she reintroduced Abbott’s comments earlier this year — unpopular in the Valley — comparing South Texas corruption to a third-world country.

“We embrace this area of our state as part of our state, an incredible part of the diversity of who we are,” she said.

http://www.themonitor.com/news/local/governor-candidates-battle-in-the-valley/article_474b537c-4068-11e4-86fc-0017a43b2370.html

Abbott went on to lie that his comments weren't about South Texas...

[yeoman6987]

4. Thank you!

Now that is how an article should be. You made my night! Thank you!

[TexasTowelie]

5. You're welcome. I posted the YouTube video in the V&M forum.

The video was off for about a minute and the audio didn't begin until several minutes into the debate.

[misterhighwasted]

6. Texas Towlie: thanks for posting..had to miss the debate tonite

Was hoping to watch a replay & catch some comments. I hear Davis is still behind in polls but i put small faith in Tx polls.
This state is in a do-or-die situation as to its governance & this election is quite critical.
Abbot would be a disaster for Texans. Corruption is so embedded in the state structure.

Davis is the only person who could change the miserable path we have been lead down by the corrupt GOP.

Davis is the light to move Texas a bit bluer.

[TexasTowelie]

7. You're welcome.

It looks like there is a lively debate on the comments to the YouTube video that I posted in the V&M forum. I consider the number of comments indicate that this is a closer race than what any poll might say. I'll have to make certain that I vote early this election since I don't want to be in lockdown at the crisis center on Election Day.

ETA: I'll let you know if I see Dan Patrick while I'm there.

[misterhighwasted]

8. ha..do get a video if you see him.

Tell Dan 'hello' from DU.

[flamin lib]

9. I watched the debate and was disappointed in Davis' delivery.

She seemed stiff and sounded as if she had rehearsed her answers. The things she said were great but but she looked nervous and uncomfortable while Abbot was relaxed and came across as he was sitting across from you over a beer.

I was surprised because Abbot has a reputation for performing poorly in personal appearances.