Kinky Gains Support Thru Trying Times

Kinky Friedman, independent candidate for governor of Texas, said he thinks the recent controversy has actually helped his candidacy. Appearing with Jesse Ventura, former governor of Minnesota, Kinky said, "In a strange way it's clearly helped us. I think the electorate is more alert, I think they're smarter than they've been in the past. I think they're seeing that you do tackle the guy with the ball." To prove his point, he showed a $25,000 check he just received from a New Orleans woman. Ventura remarked, "Obviously they're scared or they would ignore him."

According to Kinky spokeswoman Laura Stromberg, "They've helped us reach record days of online merchandise sales and contributions coming into the campaign, and we've seen more volunteer sign-ups last week than any week since Kinky announced his candidacy in 2005. Their spin has backfired."

But perhaps most interesting is that Liz Smith, nationally syndicated columnist [and a Texas girl], has now come out in support of Kinky's candidacy. She also says that her friend Ann Richards also supported Kinky. Here is some of what she had to say, "I agreed with Kinky that he is no racist, having suffered plenty himself for being a Jewish boy growing up in Texas. It occurred to me that Kinky and Ann had a lot in common. She told truth to power but with humor so people could absorb it. Kinky does the same thing. I hope he can beat the odds against weirdness. Now you may not care who becomes the governor of Texas but as this great state has sent three men to the White House, maybe you should. And if you were an Ann Richards fan, you could memorialize her by endorsing her own candidate -- Kinky. And if you are a real Democrat, a populist or a liberal-thinking person, I'd say Kinky is your man. I hope he wins."

I expect his opponents will continue attacking Kinky. After all, as Kinky says, you attack the man with the ball. But the attacks may not be having the desired effect. They may actually help Kinky by showing him as the only non-politician in the race.