By Ben Philpott, KUT News
SAN ANTONIO – Long-time Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott is running for the GOP nomination for governor in 2014. Abbott’s official announcement has been anticipated in the days after Gov. Rick Perry announced he would not seek re-election.
Attorney General Greg Abbott made his announcement in front of a couple hundred friends and supporters at Plaza Juarez in downtown San Antonio Sunday. It was an event filled with the basic information given at any state-wide campaign kick off. A video was played to help tell Abbott’s life story, specifically the accident 29 years ago that paralyzed him. And to help show off his family, Abbott’s 16-year-old daughter Audrey introduced him to the crowd.
AUDREY ABBOTT: “Please help me welcome a man I love and admire and the man I am proud to call my dad, Attorney General Greg Abbott.”
Abbott began his speech by further introducing his family to voters. Talking about his wedding day 31-years ago in San Antonio to his wife Cecilia.
GREG ABBOTT: “It was a uniting of cultures: My Anglo Heritage and Cecilia’s Irish and Hispanic heritage.”
The speech also quickly turned back to the accident that left him in a wheelchair. He told the crowd how it taught him that life is defined by “…how we respond to challenges.” And that this challenge, being paralyzed and having steel rods placed along his spine, gave him the resolve needed to fight for Texas.
ABBOTT: “Some politicians talk about having a spine of steel. I actually have one.”
Abbott also went through of list of accomplishments during his time as Attorney General. Including his efforts to stop human traffickers and child predators. His program to enforce and collect child support. And what he called his battles to defend, “…the most vulnerable in society, unborn children.”
ABBOTT: “Looks like I might be having another fight along those lines coming up here pretty soon.”
He didn’t elaborate whether that fight would be in the courts with legal challenges to a bill just passed that would regulate and restrict abortions, or a fight at the polls. No Democrats have announced a run for governor yet, but Fort Worth Democratic Senator Wendy Davis, who held an 11-hour filibuster to help block passage of the abortion bill in an earlier special session is rumored to be considering a run.
Abbott does have one Republican challenger at the moment. Former state party chair Tom Pauken. Right now, Pauken is considered a longshot…with little money in the bank compared to the $23 million in Abbott’s war chest. Abbott has campaign rallies planned Monday in Houston and McAllen.
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