Bill White... taking shots at Rick...

Bill White is aiming at Rick, saying nothing about Kay or Medina (link). Excerpt follows...

White, who said he expects Perry to be the Republican nominee, had sharp barbs for the incumbent during his speech. Referencing the allegation that Perry asked Texas Tech University trustee Mark Griffin to resign after Griffin endorsed Hutchison, White said, “That seems to me like corruption.”

“It is a public official advancing a personal agenda through his public office. We are better than that in Texas,” White said.

Them's fightin' words...

Then there was Bill White calling Rick part of the forces of darkness (link). Excerpt follows...

In his remarks, White took aim at Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who is locked in a Republican battle for re-election against U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and former Wharton County Party Chairwoman Debra Medina.

After the primary, "when the forces of darkness are licking their wounds, let's get out there," White urged Democrats.

Forces of darkness really?

Bill White later went out of his way to make sure people knew he was talking about Rick and not Kay or Medina (link). Excerpt follows...

Former Houston Mayor Bill White had some tough words at the Dallas County Democratic Party's Jefferson-Jackson Day Dinner in Union Station.

He urged the partisan crowd to get ready to defeat the "forces of darkness" after the primary season was over.

White spokesperson Katy Bacon said the Democratic candidate for governor was referring to incumbent Rick Perry, not Kay Bailey Hutchison.

Here's her statement:

"On Saturday night, Bill was NOT referring to "his GOP rivals" in discussing a post-primary scenario. Bill was referring specifically to Governor Rick Perry, who by all accounts is expected to win the Republican nomination after a difficult primary.

It's widely known that Perry practices the politics of wedge issues, talking openly about secession, campaigning with the divisive Sarah Palin and making appointments based on political, or financial litmus tests.

Rick Perry has let Texas fall behind in important ways, instead of moving our state forward.

On many occasions Bill has openly said he agrees with Senator Hutchison on her criticisms of Governor Perry, from TexDot, to toll-roads and cronyism. He has also worked closely and effectively with many Republicans including Senator Hutchison"

Funny... almost seems like Bill White is trying to harm Kay by buddying up to her and saying how he is very similar to Kay in terms of their criticisms... and how he the Democrat has worked closely with Kay...

In this video from the Austin Chronicle Bill White takes shots almost exclusively at Rick (link)...

I am still predicting that Rick wins without a run off, and I get the feeling that with or without a run off Bill White is going to aggressively go after those disaffected Republicans who voted for Kay while Rick and his team are busy reloading and reconfiguring their campaign guns to launch toward Bill White.

In the end the Kay voters will overwhelmingly back Rick, but a run off would be very beneficial to Bill White... that is unless Rick can steamroll Kay in a run off and actually end up with a lot of momentum out of that... sometimes the act of campaigning is expensive and damaging in terms of negative ads, but it is also energizing and helps a campaign sharpen its focus and learn how to win in hand to hand combat...

I think no matter what it will be a tough battle in November between Rick and Bill White but the final spread will be a lot closer to 10 points no matter what the polls may say throughout the campaign...

I also think Bill White using rhetoric like "forces of darkness" is damaging to his own image that he tries to craft as a consensus building moderate... it makes him sound more like the partisan player that is truly is...