Rep. Jim Dunnam on Bob Gammage

[Czolgosz]

“It’s an honor to endorse Bob Gammage for Governor,” Dunnam said. “Bob Gammage is strong. He’s got integrity. He’s a fighter. He stands for real reform, and he’s running on a true progressive platform that will make a difference in peoples’ lives.”

<http://thetexaswhip.blogspot.com/2006/01/rips-gubernatorial-update-jim-dunnam.html>

[acmejack]

1. Are you on Bob's staff?

Just checking, cause if isn't paying you, he should be!

[Czolgosz]

2. No. I've met Bob and I think highly of him, but I've met Chris and I think

highly of him, too.

First, I'm trying to get the word out on Gammage because I've decided that Bob's more progressive campaign will bring Kinky supporters to the campaign and will take the wind out the sails on Kinky's petition drive. I've been working to bring Kinky voters into the party, and from my experiences talking to them, they don't like Bell at all, and if Bell's the nominee, they aren't with us. It think this is a make-or-break issue because I cannot see any possibility that we win a four-way race and I think a Bell nomination greatly increases the possibility of a four-way race.

Second, I am also trying to get the word out on Gammage because I think that there has been some non-issue-related squabbling from both campaigns. I want to try to make positives posts which convey some of the reasons why I think so highly of Gammage without saying anything negative about Bell (who I also admire and who I will fully support if he gets the nomination).

Finally, I'm trying to get the word out on Gammage because I want to ensure that the future of the Texas Democratic party is progressive and populist rather than compromising and middle-of-the-road moderation. Gammage is the candidate from the progressive, populist wing of the party (some call it the Democratic wing of the party), and so long as the more progressive candidate has as good a chance at winning as the other candidate, I'd like to be counted among that progressive candidate's supporters. That's not to say I oppose more moderate candidates in those elections where a moderate can win but a progressive can't, but I don't see the governor's race as such an election (largely because of the Kinky/Carole 4n3p factor).

I like Bell. I met with him as recently as last week. But I have made my decision to support Gammage from now until March 7 and I'll carry that support forward from then to elect the nominee, whoever that may be.