Kinky Friedman wants Dems’ help if he runs for governor Kinky Friedman may run for governor again

Humorist says Democratic campaign would be no laughing matter

Kinky Friedman, shown in Austin in 2006, finished in fourth place in the governor's race that year. Kinky Friedman, shown in Austin in 2006, finished in fourth place in the governor's race that year. Photo: DELCIA LOPEZ, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS Photo: DELCIA LOPEZ, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS Image 1 of / 1 Caption Close Kinky Friedman wants Dems’ help if he runs for governor 1 / 1 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN — Humorist and author Kinky Friedman may run for Texas governor again, but if he does, he says he’s serious this time.

First, he’d run with the help of a major party — the Democrats — instead of launching an independent campaign like he did in 2006.

Friedman told the Associated Press on Tuesday he learned some hard lessons from his fourth-place defeat to Republican Rick Perry in a race with three political veterans. He said he found out he couldn’t win as an independent and that he shouldn’t crack so many jokes.

“I’m toning down the one-liners a bit. If I run, it’s going to be a serious run,” said Friedman, peppering the interview with one-liners.

Friedman noted that Democratic comedian Al Franken did well in his U.S. Senate race in Minnesota, though his victory is still being debated in court.

“So this can be done,” Friedman said.

Having failed on his first attempt, Friedman said, he knows better how to win should he decide to run again. And that means running under the banner of a major party because of the obstacles that independent candidates in the state face, he said.

“I’ve been through the baptism of fire and until you’ve been an independent you don’t really know what that is,” he said.

Then he quipped, “I’ve said before that a ticket of Jesus Christ and Willie Nelson, you know, would not win in Texas if it ran as an independent. I don’t think it can be done here. I’m glad I did it. I tried it.”

He said he’s been a Democrat all his life — though “not the kind of Democrat that goose-steps to the polling box” — and that he likes the direction the state party is taking.

Democrats can win the state’s highest office if they pull in what he calls grass-roots voters and small-town Texans, Friedman said. He considers rural support one of his strengths.

“I certainly like the way the Democratic Party is moving in Texas. I think the past four years it’s kind of transformed itself into a more populist ... it’s in a populist direction. In other words, I think they’re moving toward Barbara Jordan and Ann Richards and (commentator) Molly Ivins... That kind of thing,” he said.

As he did many times in 2006, he criticized the Perry administration of being beholden to corporate interests. He said if he runs it will be as a “man of the people.” Friedman said he wants to provide more support for teachers, improve health care coverage for Texans and abolish the death penalty.

“I do tend to ride to the left of the herd on most issues,” he said.

Friedman said he has been actively talking to Democrats in the Legislature and elsewhere and encouraged any party members to call him. He’s getting positive responses so far, he said.

“I’m not a shy little bugger. I don’t mind getting out there,” Friedman said. He said he would have to make his decision on running soon. “It’s not a done deal that I’m going to run at all.”

The Republican primary battle between Perry and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison seems to have Democrats fearful about committing to a run for governor, he said. Friedman said the Hutchison-Perry matchup “is sucking all the oxygen out of the room, but fortunately Texas is a very big room. ... I think the numbers are definitely in our favor.”

On Tuesday, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that former Ambassador Tom Schieffer is also considering a run for Texas governor as a Democrat. Schieffer served as ambassador to Australia and Japan under President George W. Bush. The newspaper also quoted a Democratic strategist as saying state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, of San Antonio, may run in the Democratic primary.