2006.10.16: October 16, 2006: Headlines: Figures: COS - Malaysia: Writing - Malaysia: Humor: Election2006 - Friedman: El Paso Times: Friedman No. 2 in polls as election day nears
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Friedman No. 2 in polls as election day nears
Early voting for the Nov. 7 election begins Oct. 23. The latest statewide poll has Perry with about 30 percent of the vote, followed by Friedman, Carole Keeton Strayhorn and Chris Bell, all of whom are polling in the low 20s or high teens in percentage of support. The top vote-getter will win the office, as there is no run-off in governor elections. Author, Musician, and candidate for Governor of Texas, Kinky Friedman served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Malaysia in the 1960's.
Friedman No. 2 in polls as election day nears
Friedman No. 2 in polls as election day nears
By Ramon Bracamontes / El Paso Times
Article Launched:10/16/2006 12:00:00 AM MDT
Kinky Friedman, the Texas author and musician who most experts predicted would finish last in the gubernatorial race, has his opponents scared. And he likes it that way.
In some of the statewide polls, Friedman is running second behind Gov. Rick Perry in the five-candidate race that includes a Democrat, a Libertarian, and another independent. All of the candidates have recently taken pot shots at Friedman, questioning his immigration platform and accusing him of being racist.
One candidate asked him last week to drop out of the race. Friedman said he knows why the others are turning on him.
"You don't tackle anybody unless they're carrying the ball, and I think we're carrying the ball right now," said Friedman, who has been able to raise more funds than three of the candidates. "We're talking about things that really trouble Texans."
Early voting for the Nov. 7 election begins Oct. 23. The latest statewide poll has Perry with about 30 percent of the vote, followed by Friedman, Carole Keeton Strayhorn and Chris Bell, all of whom are polling in the low 20s or high teens in percentage of support.
The top vote-getter will win the office, as there is no run-off in governor elections.
In El Paso, Friedman has raised more than $11,000 for his campaign. Perry is the only candidate who has raised more in the Sun City.
El Paso Community College government instructor Beatriz Cuartas said that Friedman's appeal is twofold: he has used his name "Kinky" to raise his recognition, and he offers an alternative.
"His futuristic, new-age positions are getting the attention of the younger voters," Cuartas said of Friedman's initiatives, which include replacing oil with alternative fuel. "He's giving people a new choice in politics."
Friedman has said repeatedly the only chance he has to win is to turn out thousands more voters than normally come to the polls and he hopes his unconventional campaign will inspire Texans to vote out the traditional parties.
"Texas loves a maverick," he said.
El Pasoan Kid Harp will vote for Friedman because he is a maverick who will change the culture of Texas politics.
"We are tired of the political status quo, which makes promises, and keeps promises that only benefit a small portion of the population," Harp said. "I would like to see some reform in the state, and I think Kinky is the only one who will provide the reform."
Among Friedman's initiatives is a declaration that he will send 10,000 National Guard troops to secure the U.S.-Mexico border. He is also pushing for a foreign taxpayer identification card for immigrants and fines of up to $50,000 for employers who hire undocumented workers.
"Texas can no longer wait for our federal government to solve our illegal immigration problem," Friedman said during a campaign stop in Houston.
If elected, he also plans to discard the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills for students and raise pay for teachers. However, Friedman has never given details on how it will be done. Nor has he given details on how his immigration platform will be paid for.
Friedman, 60, is a former country singer and Texas Monthly columnist. He recently published his latest book, "Texas Hold 'Em."
He abandoned his musical career several years ago and began writing books, including 17 mystery novels.
"Some people would say that I was a success in the field of music. I don't think I was. I never got to the tour bus stage," Friedman said in an interview earlier this year.
Friedman has played at the Grand Ole Opry and with Willie Nelson and Bob Dylan.
Ramon Bracamontes may be reached at rbracamontes@elpasotimes.com; 546-6142.
When this story was posted in October 2006, this was on the front page of PCOL:
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Story Source: El Paso Times
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