Comptroller's camp brushes off e-mail focusing on Ben Barnes

08:31 AM CST on Wednesday, December 14, 2005

By KAREN BROOKS / The Dallas Morning News

AUSTIN – Nearly 10,000 supporters of Gov. Rick Perry received a video e-mail on Tuesday telling them his GOP primary opponent, Comptroller Carole Keeton Strayhorn, is in cahoots with a lying, Bush-hating liberal.

The Democrat in question, former Lt. Gov. Ben Barnes, is on the host committee for a Strayhorn fundraiser scheduled for today in Austin.

"We're going to make sure that Republicans in this state don't forget Carole Strayhorn's close ties to Ben Barnes, a major political enemy of President Bush," campaign spokesman Robert Black said.

The 30-second video link in the e-mail shows a grainy black-and-white clip of Dan Rather interviewing Mr. Barnes on 60 Minutes in 2004 about the politician's assertion that he helped Mr. Bush get a spot in the Texas Air National Guard during the Vietnam War.

Then, viewers are told that the report was discredited and that Mr. Barnes had been out to destroy Mr. Bush. A picture of Mrs. Strayhorn appears next to Mr. Barnes, with the words: "Watch your television to learn what Democrat Ben Barnes and Carole Strayhorn have in common."

The Perry campaign called it "a teaser" but did not offer further details on any TV campaign.

Mrs. Strayhorn has defended her alliance with Mr. Barnes, calling him a lifelong friend. Her campaign aides said the video e-mail was a sign of desperation.

"Since he's sending it to his people, he must be worried that his support is slipping," spokesman Mark Sanders said.

E-mail kmbrooks@dallasnews.com