Davis slides into S.A., gets mayor's backing

Four days into her 2014 Democratic quest for governor, state Sen. Wendy Davis of Fort Worth stumped in San Antonio on Monday, collecting the endorsement of Mayor Julián Castro and mingling with phone bank volunteers from Battleground Texas.

She also reaffirmed her preference for a running mate, urging state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, to seek the lieutenant governor nomination.

“She has shown how smart she is, how much she cares about veterans, about public education. She would make a formidable opponent in the lieutenant governor's race, and I'm excited and hopeful that she'll be joining this race,” Davis said.

The Fort Worth senator toured the Rackspace Hosting Inc. facility on the Northeast Side — even riding down a two-story tube slide. She appeared with Castro before assembled employees, where he surprised no one by formally backing Davis.

“Today I am very proud to stand here with Sen. Davis and to endorse her for governor of Texas,” Castro said.

A shoeless Wendy Davis rides down a two-story tube slide at Rackspace Hosting Inc. during her campaign appearance. A shoeless Wendy Davis rides down a two-story tube slide at Rackspace Hosting Inc. during her campaign appearance. Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News Photo: Edward A. Ornelas, San Antonio Express-News Image 1 of / 117 Caption Close Davis slides into S.A., gets mayor's backing 1 / 117 Back to Gallery

“Wendy is such an impressive candidate whose values reflect the values of all Texans — hard work, strong faith and great aspirations,” Castro said. “It wasn't the right time for me (to run), but I'm so happy that Sen. Davis will be our next governor.”

Davis praised the mayor for his efforts to enact the city's nondiscrimination ordinance and its pre-K initiative. She thanked him for his support and spoke of the long campaign road ahead.

“This will be a 13-month journey, and it won't be an easy one,” Davis told the audience of “Rackers.”

“San Antonio has an incredible story to tell, about how much it values education, how much it values creating public private-partnerships to keep our economy strong. It's a shining example of what we want to be happening all over the state,” she said.

Monday evening, Davis mingled with volunteers at the San Antonio Firefighters Banquet Hall as they called potential supporters to draw them into the campaign effort.

Cultivating support in South Texas, with its large number of potential Latino voters, is a crucial part of Davis' strategy. In November 2014, she would face the victor of the March GOP primary, whose candidates so far include Attorney General Greg Abbott and former Texas GOP Chairman Tom Pauken. Formal filing for the primaries begins Nov. 9.

Abbott is considered the GOP front-runner with an advantage in fundraising and in head-to-head polls with Davis. But Davis told volunteers she doesn't mind a challenge.

“We're not that far behind,” she said, adding, “I've been the underdog in so many things that I've attempted to do in my life.”

Even before she declared her candidacy on Thursday in Haltom City, Davis had two campaign-style appearances in San Antonio following the filibuster that earned her national attention. On July 11, Davis drew several hundred Democratic supporters for a women's rights rally at Sunset Station, where Castro joined her on the stage. On Aug. 2 she spoke at a La Villita event sponsored by the Bexar County Democratic Party.

Davis campaigned in the Dallas area and Austin over the weekend, but Monday's trip to San Antonio is her first in South Texas as an announced candidate. On Tuesday she's expected to make private campaign stops in San Antonio.