John Nichols: How a pro-choice woman could become governor of Texas

http://host.madison.com/ct/opinion/column/john_nichols/

Yes, Wendy Davis is making an uphill run for governor of Texas.

She’s a progressive, pro-choice woman with a dramatic personal story, who made her name fighting the powers that be. As such, she does not fit the currently accepted image of a winning statewide candidate in a place where, as Molly Ivins noted, there has been a tendency to elect “good ol’ boy” governors.

But Davis has some history on her side.

And that history counters the narrative of those who would write her off — and who would write off other pro-choice women seeking governorships in states such as Wisconsin.

It is not just about a stance on an issue.

It is about the boldness with which the stance is presented. Because it is that boldness that gets progressive voters to the polls in off-year elections.

If Davis gets Texas voters excited, if she gets them to engage — and re-engage — her candidacy could change the politics of the Lone Star State. A win would be transformational. A strong showing would be transitional.

The key to the calculus is the excitement factor. Can the woman who this spring excited tens of thousands of Texans enough to get them to come to the state Capitol to back her filibuster of an assault on reproductive rights now excite hundreds of thousands who don’t usually cast ballots in off-year elections to come vote?

It has happened before.