Filing news: More mixed signals from Strayhorn

What does it say about your campaign when this is a story?

Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn's campaign Friday declined to dismiss rumors that she will file Monday as an independent candidate for governor.

Strayhorn spokesman Mark Sanders would not answer direct questions about whether Strayhorn will file Monday in the Republican primary or as an independent.

"Carole Keeton Strayhorn is a candidate for governor. She is a Republican. She will be filing for that office on Monday," Sanders said.

As non-denial denials go, that one's pretty good. You kind of have to reread it to realize that Sanders never actually says she'll be filing for Governor as a Republican. I still don't have any clue what she's doing, but I'm clearly not alone in that regard.

Betty Hill, a Republican activist who is serving as Strayhorn's Bexar County campaign coordinator, said she had not heard the rumor. But, if true, Strayhorn will likely have to look elsewhere for support.

"If she runs as an independent, we will have a slight problem," Hill said. "I think most of us are committed to the party."

Bexar County Republican Party Chairman Richard Langlois said he's heard the whispers but nothing concrete.

"Frankly, I think that would be smart for her because that's the only way she's going to get to November," he said.

Contacted on his mobile phone, former Bexar County GOP Chairman Roy Barrera Jr., perhaps Strayhorn's best-known San Antonio supporter, declined to comment Friday afternoon and abruptly hung up.

Look on the bright side, dude. These stories have to end on January 3. You can hang on that long.

Posted by Charles Kuffner on December 31, 2005 to Election 2006 | TrackBack