Abbott’s re-election fundraiser raises flags

A few of our sharper-eyed customers (our second-favorite kind, right after our paying customers) contacted me last week to ask if Gov. Greg Abbott is running an illegal gambling operation to help fund his re-election campaign. Hmm. The question is interesting because of three facts: Abbott already has more than $40 million in the bank, the Democrats seem to be having trouble coming up with a credible challenger, and governors probably shouldn’t run illegal gambling operations.

I mentioned last week that I’d received an email from the Abbott campaign trying to lure three bucks or more out of my pocket by offering a chance to win an Astros flag displayed at the Governor’s Mansion to celebrate the recent first World Series championship by a Texas team. Go, ’Stros.

“Win this Flag” said the photo showing the flag proudly displayed on a second floor railing on the mansion’s front side.

Here’s the windup and the pitch from the Abbott campaign:

“Contribute $3 or more and you’ll automatically be entered to win the Houston Astros flag that flew outside the Governor’s Mansion! We’ll also send a certificate of authenticity — signed by Governor Abbott — so you can show your friends and family you own a piece of history.”

This caught my eye because I thought it was interesting, if perhaps a bit unseemly, seeing as how the flag’s political fundraising value seems to be