Glass (left), a Libertarian candidate, has been keeping a rigorous schedule and could play spoiler in the three-way race. Glass messing with Texas race

If former Houston Mayor Bill White is able to prevent Gov. Rick Perry from an unprecedented third term in November, he’ll most likely have received an assist from Libertarian Kathie Glass.

Glass, a Houston lawyer who has been keeping a rigorous traveling schedule of tea party events, American Legion venues and radio talk show appearances, is campaigning on a platform of limited government and secure borders. On the stump, her blunt talk, accusing Perry of giving a wink and a nod to President Barack Obama, makes her an immediate presence. And a poll taken earlier this month showed her registering 5 percent of the vote.


While that’s not an eye-popping number in a state that has a history of third-party candidates leaving a significant mark, the rise of Glass could pose problems for Perry in a single-digit race.

“That’s the first poll that’s ever even mentioned my name,” Glass told POLITICO, referring to the University of Texas poll taken between Sept. 3-8. “Hardly anybody knows my name when I walk into places. But when they leave, they walk out with my yard sign. My challenge is to get before as many people in a short amount of time.”

Glass, of course, says her goal is to win. But as the UT poll demonstrates, the more realistic impact of her candidacy appears to be holding Perry under 40 percent, handing White a narrow opening on which to seize. A Rasmussen Reports survey released Friday provided more evidence of a close contest, with Perry leading White, 48 percent to 42 percent. That poll did not include Glass.

Glass’s strict-constitutional message, coupled with her ability to deliver biting one-liners, has many observers comparing her to Debra Medina, an early tea party-fueled candidate who captured 18 percent in the March GOP gubernatorial primary against Perry and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. Most recently, Glass sent a message to supporters praising the candidacy of Delaware GOP Senate nominee Christine O’Donnell. “Another gutsy woman has stepped up to lead this country back to freedom. Go Christine!” she wrote.

“She’s talking to the same voters Rick Perry is trying to. If the polls show her at 5 percent already, you get disaffected Republicans, they’re going to end up voting for Glass,” said Phil Martin, who works for the Texas Democratic Trust, a group that provides strategy and fundraising to Lone Star State Democrats.

Perry received only 39 percent of the vote in his reelection in 2006, and Libertarians consistently draw between 3 and 5 percent of the vote. In an anti-establishment year, a compelling candidate like Glass “could easily get up to 7 [percent],” Martin said.

While Glass offers sharp critiques of both White and Perry, her comments about the governor are more passionate and pointed. She accuses Perry of talking tough on border security but using Washington as a cop-out, neglecting to use the means readily at his disposal.

“The state Guard is under his control. He’s had 10 years to send them to the border. He’s part of this elitist crowd. He does not want a secure border,” she said. “Texans need to stop accepting Rick Perry’s word and go with action.”

Glass said she considered the possibility of damaging Perry’s chances and thereby providing an opening for White is “of no concern whatsoever. Whether we have Rick Perry or Bill White does not matter a hill of beans. We’re still going to hell in a hand-basket.”

“Rick Perry does not own anybody’s votes and if I get them I earned them. I work far harder for my votes than any votes Rick Perry has gotten,” she continued.

On Saturday, both White and Glass are scheduled to attend a tea party forum in Rowlett, just northeast of Dallas. Perry’s decision not to attend has caused a stir in tea party circles, with one widely read conservative blogger calling the governor “an ass.” The governor has also taken flak for shunning the state’s editorial boards and ducking debates with White.



Perry consultant David Carney said that despite the hysteria, the basic contours of the race have remained the same for most of the year. He pointed out that Libertarians have long had a presence on the Texas ballot and said the campaign has not discussed the impact of Glass even once over the past year.

“It isn’t anything unusual. It’s not anything we’re worried about. It’s just a fact of life. It’s not a worry to us,” he said.

Carney dismissed any Glass-Medina comparisons: “We are in good shape with people who believe in the tea party.”

Nonetheless, Democrats have been happily surprised by White’s ability to keep pace with Perry. Democratic Governors Association Executive Director Nathan Daschle said this week that he felt “better about this race every single day, and that’s sort of a surprise to me.”

With Perry’s polling percentage being held consistently under 50 percent, national Democrats insist Texas remains a top priority, framing the incumbent as a “part-time governor” in a midterm being rattled by another “change” narrative.

Glass’s challenge remains raising her profile in the five weeks left, with little cash and resources. But if she creeps up in the polling, Perry’s team will be confronted with the dicey decision it also faced against Medina: whether to engage her.

“Their challenge is they can’t discredit her without making her name more public. If it stays close, she really could have an impact on this race,” Martin said.