Rich on the Road

The wildest governor's race I can remember is back in the news -- nearly two decades later.  In 1990 Republican oil man Clayton Williams came out of nowhere politically and won the GOP nomination.  He roared to a 20 point lead over Democrat Ann Richards in the polls.  And, then.  He. Blew. It.

Told a terribly offensive joke about rape.  Refused to shake Ann Richards hand at a Dallas event.  Said and did a whole series of things that turned voters off.  On election night (with the polls still showing him in the lead) he was shockingly defeated.

What's brought Clayton back into the spotlight is a decision by Senator John McCain to cancel a Williams led fundraiser in Midland today -- apparently because reporters raised a few questions about some of the controversial things Clayton said back in 1990.  The rape joke, for example.

Okay.  Claytie (always a pleasant guy to be around, no matter what you thought of his politics) made mistakes and said dumb things.  But, he didn't do anything illegal.  He just made political blunders.  I'm, frankly, surprised that Senator McCain would cancel the fundraiser.

We'd like to ask him about it while he's in Dallas tonight (for a couple of fundraisers he didn't cancel) but his Press people tell us there will be "no media availability."  I'll be stalking him anyway.  And, filing reports at 5 & 6.  Probably for 9 & 10 too.

See you on TV.  Meantime, I thought this might spark some discussion.  Do you think McCain is overreacting on this one?  Or, maybe not?

Rich