AUSTIN - The chairman of the Democratic Governors Association gave a less-than-rosy assessment of Sen. Wendy Davis' chances Tuesday and got a slam in return from her campaign.

Vermont Gov. Peter Shumlin, association chairman, failed to cite the Texas Democrat's race for governor against Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott as a top target in talking to reporters, The Wall Street Journal reported. Instead, Shumlin pointed to races in Maine, Florida, Pennsylvania and, secondarily, Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan.

"We're hopeful in Texas but we all understand that Democrats haven't won Texas in a long time," he said. "I wish that we could spend money for Democrats in all 50 states. My job is not to promote governors' races in states where we can't win."

His comments came after the DGA earlier set up a political action committee that raised $50,000 for Davis' bid, and after a Public Policy Polling survey that showed Republican Attorney General Greg Abbott still has a double-digit lead on the Fort Worth Democrat.

Davis' camp has questioned the poll and slapped back at Shumlin's remarks in a statement by campaign manager Karin Johanson.

"The uninformed opinions of a Washington, D.C., desk jockey who's never stepped foot in Texas couldn't be less relevant to what's actually happening on the ground," Johanson said.

"The Davis campaign is constructing an operation never before seen in Texas that's built on the hard work of 15,000 volunteers who knocked on more than 55,000 doors in one weekend, more than 120,000 individual donors and a candidate who is exciting voters in a way not seen since Ann Richards' come from behind victory," Johanson said.

Asked how Shumlin could be characterized as a Washington desk jockey, Davis campaign communications director Zac Petkanas said Johanson was "referring to whoever at the DGA prepared the governor's talking points."

Despite Shumlin's assessment, the DGA emailed a fundraising pitch Tuesday with the subject line, "Wendy needs you."

Democratic consultant Colin Strother called it disingenuous for the group to use her name to raise money from Texans, but publicly say she's not in the top tier of possible winners.

"If these funds are going to leave the state ... they should say that in their email," Strother said.

The Republican Governors Association was quick to point out the spat in an email from press secretary Jon Thompson with the subject line "Wendy Davis attacks DGA, Peter Shumlin."

"Washington D.C. Desk Jockey Peter Shumlin. Probably not the headlines the DGA was aiming for today," it read.