Democratic Hopefuls for Texas Governor Lupe Valdez, Andrew White Share Plano Stage, But Don't Debate

Plano--Andrew White, who is chasing Lupe Valdez for the Democratic nomination for governor, managed to get on the same stage with his rival.But their appearance Thursday night at the Collin County Democratic Party's Ann Richards Dinner was not the one-on-one debate that White craves. Instead, both candidates got a few minutes to address the crowd as the other watched several feet away.White, a Houston investor and son of former Gov. Mark White, maintains that a debate is an important tool that voters can use to decide which candidate is best equipped to beat incumbent Republican Greg Abbott in the November general election. Valdez, who finished comfortably ahead of White in the March 6 primary, would rather let her campaigning convince voters to pick her in the May 22 runoff election.The calls for a debate between the candidates for governor are growing louder.This week one of Texas' leading Democrats said he was undecided in the Democratic runoff for governor and wanted Valdez and White to debate."There's a real contrast there and that's a good thing," O'Rourke told Lubbock journalist Jay Leeson. "I sure would love to see a debate...I want to make an informed decision...I just don't have a good enough idea about what they stand for and their differences. Let's hope there's a debate."  Continue reading...