DGA Congratulates White on Victory, Tells Perry Voters Want Success, Not Secession

WASHINGTON, March 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Please see statements below from Democratic Governors Association Chair Governor Jack Markell and Executive Director Nathan Daschle on the Texas primary election results tonight.

"At a time when the economy is struggling and voters are fed up with politics as usual, Bill White offers something better - a record of results. His no-nonsense approach to government helped him cut local taxes five times. His understanding of how to support economic development helped him oversee some of the fastest job growth in the country. His belief that government needs to be more efficient and effective helped him squeeze the most out of his budgets," Governor Markell said. "He's a superb candidate and will fight for every inch to talk to Texas voters directly about how he can lead his state beyond business-as-usual."

DGA Executive Director Nathan Daschle said the association backs White, having already contributed $500,000 to his campaign. White's candidacy puts Texas in play for Democrats for the first time in nearly a generation.

"Tonight's results are a stark reminder that Republicans' giddiness about 2010 is premature," Daschle said. "Rick Perry is our nation's longest serving Republican governor and yet he barely won 50 percent of the vote in his own primary. We need no more evidence to know that this is not a pro-Republican electorate; it's an electorate that wants results over rhetoric, optimism over pessimism, and success over secession. I can only assume that tonight's results send chills down the spine of Rick Perry's campaign manager."

The DGA also released a memo today describing why Democrats can win in Texas. The memo is available here.

SOURCE Democratic Governors Association