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When Greg Abbott last week unveiled plans to build a wall on Mexico’s southern borders with Mexico, he showed that his aspirations were higher than being elected governor of Texas.
Abbott wants to be the heir to former President Donald Trump and his political movement, and plans a border tour with him on June 30.
If Trump chooses against a presidential campaign in 2024, his supporters and conservative activists are looking for a champion to challenge President Joe Biden, or whoever emerges as the Democratic presidential nominee.
So far the front-runners to bring Trump’s fallen standards include Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem.
On Friday, the DeSantis campaign distributed a fundraising email outlining the accomplishments of Florida governors. The list includes keeping Florida open to business and classroom children, signing anti-violence legislation, banning critical race theory in schools, protecting women’s sports, strengthening electoral integrity and ban on vaccine passports.
Abbott has a nearly identical checklist, though the Texas Legislature failed to approve a controversial election bill. The bill died when House Democrats walked out of the chamber to avoid an eleven-hour vote.
Now Abbott is expected to call a special session to force lawmakers to approve an election and bail reform bill.
Abbott hopes on Sept. 1, if the laws are locked in for the next two years, hell there will be a conservative and Trumpish list as any governor in the country.
(from left) Texas Attorney Ken Paxton and Governor Greg Abbott greet President Donald Trump at Dallas Love Field on Thursday, June 11, 2020, in Dallas. (Smiley N. Pool / The Dallas Morning News) (Smiley N. Pool / Staff Photographer)
And remember, Abbott was criticized by some conservative activists for shutting down businesses to fight against the coronavirus pandemic and issued a mandate to wear masks to stop the spread of the virus. Abbott ended the mandate in March and allowed the businesses to operate at full capacity. Perhaps he was glad that Biden responded to his order by calling him a Neanderthal.
Having Texas build a border wall Abbotts Trump card of sorts will allow him a special piece of Trump lane. After all, no other governor is building a wall, a policy proposal that was central to Trump’s successful 2016 presidential bid.
Critics slammed the Abbotts proposals, pointing out that spending money on a border wall was impractical. There are other ways, they say, to secure the border. While that view may prove correct, the idea of building a wall between the United States and Mexico is a political jackpot for Republicans, as Trump proved more than four years ago.
Surrounded by state lawmakers and Jewish leaders, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, the center, holds two bills he signed, Monday, June 14, 2021, at the Shul of Bal Harbor, a center of the Jewish community in Surfside, Fla. DeSantis visited The South Florida temple to denounce anti-Semitism and stand with Israel, while signing a bill into law that would require public schools in his state to set aside moments of silence for children to meditate or pray. (AP Photo / Wilfredo Lee) (Wilfredo Lee)
Trumps called for the wall, and his unfulfilled promise that Mexico would pay for its construction, is very difficult for many, but political magic.
For Abbott, the Texas wall symbol gives voters a long -standing image of resisting Biden’s policies. This is similar to the mantra he used as Texas attorney general, often bragging about waking up in the morning and thinking of ways to sue former President Barack Obama.
The GOP base loves fighters, and the merit of the issues is secondary to fighting what they fear: progressive politics.
As for his re-election, building a border wall will remove a talking point for his critics in the main 2022 GOP.
So far the biggest major competition is the former state Sen. Donald Huffines, along with Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller and former Texas Republican Party Chairman Allen West contemplating potential campaigns. Abbott could also get a general election challenge from former U.S. Rep. Beto ORourke, D-El Paso. And Academy Award -winning actor Matthew McConaughey is all around the screen, though he hasn’t yet indicated which party the banner, if any, he will take.
The biggest risk to the Abbotts is the general election, but it only goes into focus if Democrats can field a high-quality candidate. In 2014 Abbott could easily withstand a challenge from former Dallas County Sheriff Lupe Valadez, an unfunded Dallas Democrat. That stress -free contest allowed him to use his overwhelming resources to help fellow Republicans across the finish line.
If the state power grid continues to be cumbersome and other issues under the Abbotts control become problematic, the idea of a boundary wall could have a blowback.
Otherwise, the Abbotts move will do what it was designed to achieve. He is put on the 2024 national conversation.
DeSantis looked at Abbott and tapped his cap and even sent police to Florida to help Texas on the border.
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