四虎影院 has invited both Republican candidates for lieutenant governor to our studios to discuss their qualifications for the job and their visions for the state.
David Dewhurst, the incumbent, sat down with 四虎影院 on Tuesday, on the eve of the last scheduled media debate before his May 27 runoff election with Dan Patrick, the state senator from Houston.
We asked Dewhurst: How is it that after more than a decade as lieutenant governor, you finished 13 points behind Dan Patrick in the primary, and now you鈥檙e scrambling to keep your job?
Dewhurst's answer: Communications. On the airwaves and on the ground.
鈥淚 don鈥檛 think our ads (during the primary) connected with people as well as I wanted them to,鈥� Dewhurst said.
鈥�(And) I haven鈥檛 done a very good job of getting out and telling the people of Texas what we鈥檙e doing, why we鈥檙e doing it and opening up and telling people who David is.鈥�
Dewhurst says that鈥檚 what he鈥檚 trying to do now as he races to close the gap.
鈥淔irst of all, I want to make sure voters understand things just don鈥檛 happen in the legislature and it takes a proactive effort to get things done,鈥� he said during a 47-minute interview at the 四虎影院 studios.
Dewhurst wants to remind voters of his record
Dewhurst says his goal for Wednesday鈥檚 WFAA-TV debate is to remind voters that during his watch as lieutenant governor, taxes were cut and the Texas economy outperformed other states.
He says he also wants to show a contrast between himself and his opponent. It鈥檚 something he鈥檚 trying to do with television attack ads that claim Patrick didn鈥檛 pay taxes, pocketed employees鈥� federal income tax withholdings and hid assets during a bankruptcy.
鈥淎ll we鈥檙e doing is we鈥檙e quoting things he鈥檚 said, things he鈥檚 done, from newspapers, from TV shows,鈥� Dewhurst said in defense of the hard-hitting ads, which Patrick claims are filled with lies.
Patrick reminds that Dewhurst also went through a bankruptcy in the 1980s. Patrick has said he learned from his mistakes and now has a successful broadcasting business. He鈥檚 blamed his old financial troubles on a tough economy and suggested it鈥檚 not relevant to pick on him for things that happened 30 years ago.
Character counts, Dewhurst says
Why does Dewhurst believe it matters?
鈥淚t matters only if this is a pattern,鈥� Dewhurst said. 鈥淚t matters only if this is simply an example of character.鈥�
鈥淏ecause if we鈥檙e both real conservative and we both agree with each other on policy 98 percent of the time, then it鈥檚 a question of who has the character and the ability and the vision to lead this state forward over the next four years. And I submit, on the facts, it鈥檚 me.鈥�
Dewhurst says the matter of character includes releasing federal income taxes. He鈥檚 released his tax records from 2009-2012. Patrick hasn鈥檛 released his.
鈥淟et the people of Texas see what you鈥檙e trying to hide,鈥� Dewhurst said in his challenge to Patrick. 鈥淵ou鈥檙e trying to hide something.鈥�
Dan Patrick has fired his own volleys at Dewhurst, including ads that question Dewhurst鈥檚 record on immigration.
Debates: When to watch
The Dewhurst-Patrick debate at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday will be live-streamed online by WFAA-TV and the Texas Tribune. )
Their is posted at and will re-air on 四虎影院-TV at 9 p.m. Friday.
