james1906
09-16-2009, 10:52 PM
SAN ANTONIO — Gov. Rick Perry embarked on a campaign fundraising swing Tuesday with former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a longtime friend and Republican ally whose views on social issues are more closely allied with Perry's primary opponent, U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.
Neither Perry nor Giuliani, whom Perry endorsed for president last year, discussed Perry's Republican primary battle with Hutchison during a news conference on border security at a San Antonio police station.
After a similar event in Austin, Perry was asked whether he is suggesting Hutchison hasn't done enough as a senator to help secure the border.
"We could draw the conclusion that Washington, D.C., anybody that's been in Washington, D.C. for 16 years and hasn't given us any more assistance — that's a long and distinguished list of people," he said. Perry has continually tried to portray Hutchison as a Washington insider who is disconnected from the values of Texans.
Hutchison spokeswoman Jennifer Baker said the senator since taking office in 1993 "has worked very hard to bring home money to help secure the border."
Perry, Giuliani and Hutchison are all like-minded when it comes the border and fiscal policy. But Baker said Perry's programs such as his state border camera initiative — which fell short of its goals in arrests, reports of illegal crossings and the number of cameras installed — are "a record of failed policy."
Giuliani stands closer to Hutchison when it comes to abortion rights, which he favors. Hutchison has said she believes in a woman's right to choose an abortion until a fetus is viable outside of the mother's body. Her aides, however, also point to her opposition of partial birth abortion and government funding for abortions. Perry opposes abortion except in the cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother.
Giuliani stands apart from both Texas gubernatorial candidates when it comes to guns. Giuliani favors gun control; neither Perry nor Hutchison do.
Asked what Giuliani brings to his re-election campaign, Perry deflected the question back to making the border safer.
"This isn't a campaign issue. We've been dealing with the border issue for upward of five or six years now," said Perry, who is up against Hutchinson for next year's Republican gubernatorial nomination.
Perry's visits to San Antonio and Austin fell under official government business. But he and Giuliani are also taking care of plenty of campaign business during their two-day swing through Texas that includes fundraising events in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Houston.
"It is something where the federal government has completely failed in its responsibility," Giuliani said of securing the U.S.-Mexico border. "It's one thing to always complain about that, and we should, because we need to get the federal government further involved. But it's another thing to do nothing. And (Perry) has stepped up."
Perry and Giuliani have been political allies for years. Perry was the first sitting governor to endorse Giuliani in his failed bid for the presidency last year, and Giuliani backed Perry during his last re-election campaign in 2006.
Hutchison's campaign called Perry's appearance "more grandstanding" on border security.
"When it comes to securing our border, Texans deserve better than Rick Perry's record of broken promises, failed programs and wasted millions," her campaign said in a statement. "We need a governor who believes that border security is about more than just grandstanding for the cameras in an election year."
Giuliani has built a formidable political base in Texas with the help of well-connected Republican money men. Giuliani is a name partner in the Houston law firm Bracewell & Giuliani, which represents oil and energy companies.
The former New York City mayor also helped Perry with a radio ad in the governor's first successful re-election bid, and the two share some of the same campaign donors and consultants.
Neither Perry nor Giuliani, whom Perry endorsed for president last year, discussed Perry's Republican primary battle with Hutchison during a news conference on border security at a San Antonio police station.
After a similar event in Austin, Perry was asked whether he is suggesting Hutchison hasn't done enough as a senator to help secure the border.
"We could draw the conclusion that Washington, D.C., anybody that's been in Washington, D.C. for 16 years and hasn't given us any more assistance — that's a long and distinguished list of people," he said. Perry has continually tried to portray Hutchison as a Washington insider who is disconnected from the values of Texans.
Hutchison spokeswoman Jennifer Baker said the senator since taking office in 1993 "has worked very hard to bring home money to help secure the border."
Perry, Giuliani and Hutchison are all like-minded when it comes the border and fiscal policy. But Baker said Perry's programs such as his state border camera initiative — which fell short of its goals in arrests, reports of illegal crossings and the number of cameras installed — are "a record of failed policy."
Giuliani stands closer to Hutchison when it comes to abortion rights, which he favors. Hutchison has said she believes in a woman's right to choose an abortion until a fetus is viable outside of the mother's body. Her aides, however, also point to her opposition of partial birth abortion and government funding for abortions. Perry opposes abortion except in the cases of rape, incest or danger to the life of the mother.
Giuliani stands apart from both Texas gubernatorial candidates when it comes to guns. Giuliani favors gun control; neither Perry nor Hutchison do.
Asked what Giuliani brings to his re-election campaign, Perry deflected the question back to making the border safer.
"This isn't a campaign issue. We've been dealing with the border issue for upward of five or six years now," said Perry, who is up against Hutchinson for next year's Republican gubernatorial nomination.
Perry's visits to San Antonio and Austin fell under official government business. But he and Giuliani are also taking care of plenty of campaign business during their two-day swing through Texas that includes fundraising events in San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Houston.
"It is something where the federal government has completely failed in its responsibility," Giuliani said of securing the U.S.-Mexico border. "It's one thing to always complain about that, and we should, because we need to get the federal government further involved. But it's another thing to do nothing. And (Perry) has stepped up."
Perry and Giuliani have been political allies for years. Perry was the first sitting governor to endorse Giuliani in his failed bid for the presidency last year, and Giuliani backed Perry during his last re-election campaign in 2006.
Hutchison's campaign called Perry's appearance "more grandstanding" on border security.
"When it comes to securing our border, Texans deserve better than Rick Perry's record of broken promises, failed programs and wasted millions," her campaign said in a statement. "We need a governor who believes that border security is about more than just grandstanding for the cameras in an election year."
Giuliani has built a formidable political base in Texas with the help of well-connected Republican money men. Giuliani is a name partner in the Houston law firm Bracewell & Giuliani, which represents oil and energy companies.
The former New York City mayor also helped Perry with a radio ad in the governor's first successful re-election bid, and the two share some of the same campaign donors and consultants.