Well, well. Ron Kirk endorses Chris Bell.

[crispini]

Via email:

Dear Friends,

A lot of you have worked with me over the years in my campaigns for Dallas Mayor and United States Senate, and I value your support and your allegiance. So when I was initially asked to give my support to a candidate in the Democratic Primary for Governor, I held off because I wanted to ensure that the candidate I picked would have what it takes not only to defeat Rick Perry in November, but to be a great Texas Governor as well.

And today I am endorsing Chris Bell and asking you to support him too.

Chris Bell knows that it is not enough to be right about Rick Perry being wrong. Chris has taken bold stands on public education and ethics reform that speak to a broad cross-section of Texans that he calls the New Mainstream. And Sunday's Dallas Morning News poll--not to mention the editorial endorsement from that newspaper and others as well--show that Chris is the only candidate in this race building a broad base of support that will sustain him in a general election.

Chris Bell's path to victory in November is a lot simpler than the one that I faced in 2002. This is a plurality election, meaning Chris only has to finish first in a 4-way race to win. Put more simply, if we turn out our Democratic base, we win!

Texas needs and deserves strong, competent and visionary leadership. I sincerely believe that leader is Chris Bell. I choose to go into the future with Chris Bell, and I am asking all of you who have backed me in the past to help me carry Chris to victory in the Texas Democratic Primary on March 7! It is time to come together and support a great Texas Democrat and a new leader who can guide our state to greater heights.

Yours,
Ron Kirk

Ron Kirk was the Dallas Mayor from 1995 until 2001, and in 1994 Gov. Ann Richards made him Texas Secretary of State. He is a former Dallas Assistant City Attorney and served as aide to U.S. Senator Lloyd Bentsen. Now he serves on the Board of Directors for Brinker International, Dean Foods Company and PetsMart, Inc., is a National Trustee for the March of Dimes, and is a partner at Vinson & Elkins LLP in Dallas.

[sui generis]

1. Dear Ron Kirk,

The democratic base is not light chiffon pink. It's cobalt blue. If you want to turn out the cobalt blue base then endorse a candidate who is true blue himself.

[sui generis]

2. and the award for

most easily misinterpreted reply goes to . . . sui generis!

Oy - just re-read that; I meant real progressives are cobalt blue . . . not rejects from the undecided red republican middle.

Don't know if that extracted my feet or managed to stuff my dainty size elevens in even deeper. :shrug:

[efhmc]

3. I like both of these candidates. I will vote for the person who I think

has the stronger chance of winning and that is the bottom line. I want a Dem in office. We can sort the rest out later.

[ashling]

4. I agree