Texas Dems waiting for support from Obama
By CLAY ROBISON Copyright 2008 Houston Chronicle
Aug. 3, 2008, 11:11PM
AUSTIN - Weeks ago, Texas Democratic officials got an important commitment, or so they thought, from Barack Obama's campaign.
The Democratic presidential candidate would do more than milk money from Texas for his own race. He would use his rock star appeal to raise money for the Texas party with an event to be scheduled before Election Day.
There still is time, of course, but the clock is ticking, and some Texas Democrats are worrying that Obama's handlers may forget about the idea or permanently postpone it.
"We have sensed a lack of enthusiasm (from the Obama camp)," said one Texas Democrat, who didn't want to be identified, perhaps out of fear of being perceived as making negative comments about his party's presumptive nominee.
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Too busy to fit them in
It seems, he added, that Obama has had too many scheduling "conflicts" to fit in the Texas party. Last week, the candidate raised more than $1.5 million at two events in Houston, but that money is for his campaign, and practically all of it will be spent in other states.
Texas Democrats figure that Obama could raise as much as $1 million for the state party at one event. The party would spend the money on turning out the vote in key races, including campaigns important to the Democrats' effort to regain a majority of the Texas House.
"The more they (Obama aides) continue to check the schedule, the more days we lose," the Texas source said
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A spokesperson for the Obama campaign said no further event is scheduled for the Texas party at this time. But, she said, Obama is committed to helping "Texas Democrats up and down the ballot win in November."
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