Strayhorn hints against running for governor

[Freddie Stubbs]

Comptroller denies statement that she wouldn't seek re-election

By R.G. RATCLIFFE
Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

AUSTIN - Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn indicated Monday she may be about to back away from challenging Gov. Rick Perry in next year's Republican primary.

Strayhorn's spokesman, Mark Sanders, issued a statement denying she ever told Agriculture Commissioner Susan Combs that she would not seek re-election as comptroller. Combs has been preparing to run for Strayhorn's office if she vacates it to run for governor.

Strayhorn has been running a shadow campaign against Perry for almost two years, criticizing him at every opportunity. While Strayhorn has never publicly ruled out a run for re-election, her posturing until Monday had always been toward challenging Perry.

But the Republican Party infrastructure has been lining up against her. She recently was snubbed and shut out of a Republican Party of Texas fund-raising dinner. And all of the statewide, nonjudicial elected officials, including Combs, signed a letter endorsing Perry's re-election.

more: http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/politics/3006960