Singer, musician, comedian, satirist, novelist...and perhaps governor. Texas' own Kinky Friedman is back and again mulling a run for the governor's mansion. But this time he wants to be taken seriously. "The way to do this is to run in the Democratic primary in 2014," Friedman tells KTRH. He ran as a third-party candidate back in 2006, but now feels the best way to victory is by way of the major parties. That means having to win a competitive primary. "The primary is more problematic, that's where I have to show that I'm more serious than I was last time," he says.
He may be more serious this time, but that doesn't mean Friedman has changed his core principles. He's still a libertarian at heart, a self-described "small-government Democrat." "I am to the left of the liberals and to the right of the conservatives," Friedman says. "Meaning, as Winston Churchill said, we need action this day...we need action, not just words." He cites his brand of Democrat as Harry Truman, Barbara Jordan or Henry B. Gonzalez. "All of these people would stand up for the people, they would listen to the people...Today, these guys are just walking re-election machines."
Friedman cautions to say he hasn't made up his mind about a 2014 gubernatorial run, and Perry hasn't either, for that matter. But Friedman does feel he could defeat Perry in a one-on-one matchup, since Perry's political clout has been reduced by his failed White House run and his unsuccessful backing of Lt. Governor David Dewhurst for the U.S. Senate. Still, it remains to be seen if Friedman could win a statewide Democratic primary. Many in the party were upset with him for taking votes away from their candidate back in the '06 race. Friedman says he has to show them he isn't the same candidate as then. Or as he says it, "Just like the President, I've evolved too."
