Schieffer's Out of Gov Race

The Texas Tribune and Dallas Morning News both report that Democrat Tom Schieffer is pulling out of the gubernatorial race, and plans to formally announce his withdrawal this afternoon.

Citing difficulties raising both funds and awareness, Schieffer's campaign "just couldn't get traction," as one supporter put it. It's also speculated that his ties with George W. Bush—as a lawyer, Schieffer was a partner in the investment group that bought the Texas Rangers team—hurt his profile among Democrats, despite his lifelong affiliation to the party.

It now appears that Houston Mayor Bill White may divert his focus from the Senate seat being vacated by Kay Bailey Hutchison to become one of the leading Democratic candidates in the governor's race. As the Texas Tribune points out, White's in a much better position than Schieffer had been able to achieve—he's well-funded, moderate enough to appeal to independents, and, unlike Schieffer, never voted for Dubya.