Saturday, June 9, 2007
Dallas mayoral runoff: It’s not over until it’s over (even when it’s over)
Updated 06:29 p.m., June 9, 2007
It's anyone's race to lose, if their name rhymes with Bomb Shepherd.
DALLAS — We've been watching the implosion of the Ed Oakley campaign this week with a bit of surprise and (as people whose business is following political intrigue) -- sadness. There's nothing like a good election smackdown, but this one is increasingly looking like a snooze. Voter turnout will be nominal, and by every indicator, Ed Oakley is doing a fine job of shoring up Tom Leppert's lead.
Oakley's Leppert smear campaign has totally backfired, putting Leppert in the position of put-upon-frontrunner, something that he didn't have on the night of the general election. Don Hill's semi-surprise endorsement of Leppert hasn't helped either. Nor has Oakley'ss involvement in the Hollywood Door affair. Nor did his flip-flop on partisanism in the race. Nor did claiming a non-existent NAACP endorsement.
Oakley stepped in it when making claims that Don Hill's people were trying to sell the endorsement. Despite the denials, I believe him. But his inability to make the story credible and relevant to the general public have turned his own swing into another black eye.
Oakley's failure (yeah- I'm calling it right now) doesn't surprise me. We interviewed most of the mayoral candidates here at Pegasus News. And in addition to not pulling punches in our questioning, we also asked every candidate one off-the-wall, ridiculous, irreverent question. The only one who didn't respond with quick wit and good humor? Oakley.
So, given the fact that I can't find anyone, friend or foe of Oakley, who doesn't think the campaign has derailed, why is the winning opposition taking on tactics of desperation?
People around town have been getting calls from the Heritage Alliance PAC today. The kind of calls that are as likely to swing voters away from your candidate as towards.
And, the homophobic mystery calls are back, according to some of our readers.
(As always, we'd love audio of these calls. Please send 'em on if you've got 'em.)
Unless someone's got some polling data I haven't seen, why wouldn't the Leppert-ites keep their mouths shut until the victory party? I'd almost like to think that the mystery calls are a really clever move from the Oakley camp, planting a reason to finally turn against Leppert.
To be clear, I'm not a supporter or opponent of either candidate. I still wish Zac Crain hadn't dropped the ball. And Pegasus News doesn't make endorsements. But we do report the news. And the story I see right now is that Tom Leppert -- for better, worse or indifferent -- is our next mayor. Unless he and his supporters screw him out of the job.
UPDATE: Leppert says he isn't behind the calls and wants them to stop.
Early voting ends Monday. I and the remaining six voters will cast ballots on Friday Saturday, also known as runoff election day.
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Scott Miller says:
Tom Leppert... Ed Oakley
Tom Leppert... Ed Oakley...
I think I might start a betting pool on what day my head actually explodes. Any takers?
Verified
2 years, 5 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Michael Davis says:
(just a general comment, not directed to peg news)
The blaming of Leppert for those calls by readers on other blogs is silly. Why the hell would he do that type of strategy. It seems like some out of right field group had their own deal they wanted to do it.
I had a press release from Tom within an hour of hearing about today's calls. Leppert called for the tactics to stop. I mean damn he even put something on is site condemning their actions.
But all of the stuff from Ed's camp is directly funded and endorsed by Oakley. The campaign you run is indicative of how you will serve as Mayor. You guys will be wishing we had Laura Miller back.
People want Leppert to bend over backwards, but the reality is Tom has stayed positive even though Oakley's campaign has been slinging mud, crap, and everything else for weeks.
I also believe the Oakley camp is secretly loving that the Heritage people are doing this. More distraction from the issues.
Believe me, if I have a problem with Tom I will go and tell him directly. We will hold him accountable. And I believe that he will listen and try to see what can be done. Can we say that for the opponent?
As Oakley says, a vote for him means that you like the way City Hall is going and want to keep it that way. Think about that.
I am dropping a bomb on Monday. So look for that if you wish.
Verified
2 years, 5 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Rawlins Gilliland says:
You already dropped a bomb: this post. Your points bombed.
Verified
2 years, 5 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Matt Anderson says:
You might plan on casting your vote on Saturday, the actual runoff election day, rather than trying to do so on Friday.
Verified
2 years, 5 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren says:
Doh! Looked at the calendar wrong. I knew it was the 16th...
Staff
2 years, 5 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Michael Davis says:
We'll forgive you Mike...just vote on Saturday. It's a shame you will be one of the few.
Verified
2 years, 5 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren says:
Oakley tells Wick that he's winning:
http://frontburner.dmagazine.com/2007...
Staff
2 years, 5 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Michael Davis says:
Sez Wick:
Meanwhile, it's going to be a rough week. Oakley has shown no compunction and little restraint, and he doesn't seem to care what the consequences are. Tom Leppert has been wise not to respond in kind. In a national campaign, not answering negative ads can be fatal. But in a city election, it can work the other way.
By acting mayoral, Leppert fulfills what voters are hoping to find, a man who can unite the city rather than divide it. With his negative ads and easily discounted claims, Oakley seems to be playing into Leppert's strength at that score, re-enforcing his message. Leppert is the anti-Laura Miller. Oakley is coming across as her stepson.
Verified
2 years, 5 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
WhitneyTM says:
I'm going to vote, but in this instance I can't really blame anyone for not voting in the mayoral runoff, the choices being what they are. I feel like a tool voting for Leppert just because he's the candidate who didn't make an ass of himself during his campaign, but that's why I'm going to do it. I can't be sure I won't regret it, but I also can't help but feel that at the very least if Leppert can continue to keep from embarrassing himself and Dallas, we could call him a successful mayor.
Anonymous
2 years, 5 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
riggshaw says:
It does seem odd that with a candidate pool only slightly than the voter turnout is likely to be for the runoff, we wind up with a choice of Tweedle-Dee and Tweedle (maybe) Not-quite-so-Dee.
Anonymous
2 years, 5 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren says:
The Voice has in-depth coverage on the Heritage calls:
http://www.dallasvoice.com/artman/pub...
Staff
2 years, 5 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren says:
Leppert finally goes negative.
http://www.dallas.org/node/307
But wow. That's an effective ad.
Staff
2 years, 5 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal
Mike Orren says:
The polls clearly contradict my thesis here:
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedconte...
I stand by my assessment. The high margin of error and difficulty in finding likely voters puts me in doubt of the poll. But, we shall see soon enough...
Staff
2 years, 5 months agoLink to this comment | Suggest removal