Debra Medina is a "dark horse" candidate in every sense of the word. She is constantly in the shadow of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Gov. Rick Perry, who have both been elected multiple times to their respective offices. Her gubernatorial campaign is based more on the quality of her character than on substantial political experience, with her Web site boasting that she is a "wife and mother, a registered nurse, a businesswoman, a rancher and a fighter."
The problem is, though she may have a heart of gold, she also has to generate enough positive publicity to make people believe in her. To lead Texas, you have to have good character and respect.
Medina has kept herself busy visiting Texas cities and campuses, promoting her ideals of small government and individual liberty. Last week, she spoke at Angelo State University and tonight she speaks at The University of Texas at Austin. But as she embarks on these public image campaigns, her followers are also busy "promoting" her - and not always in beneficial ways.
For example, watch this YouTube video of one of her supporters (an older woman) rapping about her. Yes, rapping. I especially like the "woo-hoo"s!
Entertaining and on-message, but hard to take seriously...just like the supporters of another Texas politician - Ron Paul. Some of Medina's only political experience is helping lead Ron Paul campaigns (he practically endorses her), and he had some of the same problems. He lost respect in the political community because some of his supporters were so overzealous - trolling blogs and articles, voting so many times in online polls that the results were skewed, and holding disruptive demonstrations and rallies. In response to Ron Paul's letter of approval, one reader comments, "Well...judging from the people working on her campaign, they are enough for me to vote for Perry or Hutchinson."
Medina certainly needs more publicity to win the governor's race. She just needs to make sure it's the right kind.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
After having the privledge of hearing Debra Medina speak here at the University of Texas at Austin I can say, I completely agree with your statement, "Her gubernatorial campaign is based more on the quality of her character than on substantial political experience." Now don't get me wrong, it is very admirable to see an ordinary citizen of Texas, so concerned with making a change in her state, that she decides to run for governor. But as you said, she does need more (good) publicity to even have a chance in this race.
ReplyDeleteI guess the saying, "Any publicity is good publicity," doesn't apply to this case.