Greg Abbott’s book, bus tour put him in the political fast lane

Gov. Greg Abbott’s bus tour is meant to take him places.

I mean, besides a Half Price Books near Westworth Village.

When Abbott’s Broken But Unbowed tour bus rolls into Fort Worth today, it will be hauling the governor’s political hopes but also his baggage.

Abbott, a 23-year elected official serving his first term as governor, is positioning himself for a possible national political campaign or appointment.

But even arriving by luxury motor coach, Abbott does not make as much noise as former TV sports anchor and radio entertainer Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick, a potential political rival.

If Abbott has hope for higher office, he must clearly command state government. But with a divisive Republican presidential campaign ahead, followed by the Legislature in January (bringing more daily Patrick news conferences), this is almost Abbott’s only time to rally attention.

“Abbott is as cautious as Patrick is aggressive,” said Southern Methodist University political science professor Cal Jillson, “so Abbott always keeps an eye on him to be sure Patrick does not get by him on the right.”

Abbott is building his national conservative profile with the book, a memoir of his recovery from a disabling 1984 accident and also an essay on constitutional government.

After only a week, it’s nearing the top 10 political bestsellers.

Abbott’s tour reflects a long-range plan, while Patrick’s focus is “capturing each evening news cycle,” Jillson said, adding that Abbott’s plan shows more thought “but [being] thoughtful doesn’t always get you much in our modern politics.”

Patrick came to Fort Worth on May 10, but to call for Fort Worth school Superintendent Kent P. Scribner’s resignation over new guidelines upholding a 2011 board policy protecting transgender student equality.

(In a speech Thursday in Austin, Patrick claimed again that Scribner imposed guidelines that “never went to the board,” although several trustees have said they and district lawyers were consulted. In 2011, the policy was approved 9-0.)

Patrick, author of a 2009 Christian book, “has always been the darling of the activist base,” SMU political science professor Matthew Wilson said.

“Abbott just needs to be careful that he doesn’t separate himself too much from the ideological fray. … He doesn’t want to get ‘Dewhursted,’ ” a reference to Patrick’s 2014 defeat of less preachy 12-year Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst.

You might say the governor has 2020 vision.

This story was originally published May 21, 2016 at 7:02 PM with the headline "Greg Abbott’s book, bus tour put him in the political fast lane."