Texas not in play as much as Clinton hopes, Dem leaders say

AUSTIN ­- Hillary Clinton may have raised the idea that she can win Texas, but Democrats on the ground in the Lone Star State are not holding similar expectations.

"We're not a battleground state," said former Texas land commissioner Garry Mauro,representing Clinton's campaign at a show of unity with Bernie Sanders forces heading into the party's state convention this week.

Neither Democrats nor Clinton's camp will spend big money here, Mauro said at a Tuesday news conference at state Democratic headquarters,

That does not mean Texas Democrats are not fighting to win, said Jacob Limón, state director for Sanders' campaign in Texas.

"We're going to have to do it ourselves," said Limón, who cited voters energized by Sanders' idealistic campaign. He said there is broad agreement on issues between those voters and those backing Clinton, the presumptive Democratic nominee following her long primary duel with the Vermont senator.

The prospect of a Clinton race against billionaire Donald Trump, who has offended a variety of groups, including Latinos and women with his sometimes caustic comments, will make it easier to get out the Democratic vote, Mauro agreed.

"With Donald Trump on the ticket, we now have a way to get our voters out," he said.

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Clinton touted her Texas chances in an interview with New York Magazine that appeared late last month. Asked which states Trump puts in play, she said, "Texas!" Challenged by the article's author, she said, "If black and Latino voters come out and vote, we could win Texas."

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has sent out fundraising pleas using the specter of Clinton working to turn Texas blue, but many see that as unlikely as a practical matter in 2016.

The last time a Democratic presidential candidate lost to a Republican by only single digits in Texas was the 1996 Bill Clinton-Bob Dole race, and Ross Perot that year got nearly 7 percent of the vote.

"It's hard for me to see how Hillary breaks a 45 percent ceiling," said Republican consultant Matt Mackowiak. "I would tend to respect Garry Mauro's expert opinion about Texas a hell of a lot more than I would respect Hillary's."

Abbott spokesman John Wittman also said his boss believes Trump will win Texas.

"The governor is confident Donald Trump will trounce Hillary Clinton in Texas," Wittman said.

Seeking to remove intraparty obstacles to voter turnout, Mauro and Limón earlier asked thousands of delegates to the state convention to remain united and prevent the "nightmare" of Trump becoming president.

Trump has planned a three-city Texas visit to raise money this week and is scheduled to be in San Antonio for a fundraiser Friday, when the Texas Democratic State Convention will be in full swing there.

Scheduled speakers at the state party convention include U.S. Rep. Filemon Vela, D-Brownsville, who recently garnered national attention with an open letter telling Trump in raw terms where he could shove his proposed wall on the Mexico border.

The convention also will highlight U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro and his twin brother, U.S. Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro. The Castro brothers long have been seen as Democrats' best hope as they look for a way to once again win election to statewide office in Texas.

Joaquin Castro is state convention chairman, and Julián Castro has a featured speaking role.

The HUD secretary will be introduced by former state Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth, who lost big to Republican Greg Abbott in the 2014 race for governor. Davis since has started a gender-equality initiative, and she has been campaigning for Clinton.