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Wendy Davis Tries ‘No Label’ Strategy in Texas Governor Run

Wendy Davis has a new campaign video out. It doesn't mention she's a Democrat.

By Mark Z. Barabak

Wendy Davis has a new video promoting her bid for Texas governor.

Let us review:

  • Field of bluebonnets? Check.
  • Rippling Lone Star flag? Check.
  • Hand-tooled cowboy boots? Check.
  • Chugging oil well? Check.
What's missing in the four-minute-30-second spot? Any mention of Davis' party affiliation, to wit, her affiliation with the Democratic Party.

The two-term state senator from Fort Worth is waging a decidedly uphill fight in the race to succeed Republican Gov. Rick Perry. It's been more than two decades since Texans elected a Democratic governor, and Republicans are riding a winning streak of more than 100 victories in statewide contests.

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Although Davis vaulted to overnight celebrity on the strength of her June filibuster against antiabortion legislation, she can't possibly win running as an abortion rights crusader or champion of the political left. That explains why she made no mention of her famous filibuster in last week's announcement speech, focusing instead on education and accountability in Austin, the state capital.

It also explains the omission of the D-word -- no, not Dallas -- in her new campaign video.

But Texans needn't worry. By the time the campaign is over, Republicans will have worked so hard tying her to the national Democratic Party that voters might think it's Davis, not Joe Biden, who is President Obama's understudy in the White House.

(c)2013 Los Angeles Times

Daniel Luzer is GOVERNING's news editor.
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