In article ,
"Margaret von B." wrote:

I believe that Bush was elected governor because four years of hard
drinking, chain smoking, Harley riding biker started to scare the average
Texan. Even if bigger is better.

http://www.tsl.state.tx.us/governors...hards-p01.html

There was a nasty Rovian whisper campaign against Richards that played
better outside of Austin than in.

Bush was generally liked in Austin despite his political views. Stuff
like Bush twin gossip and bike accidents, like the time he had to dive
out of the way of a falling garbage truck, made him easier to identify
with at the local level.

Stephen