Austin.YNN.com

Austin / Round Rock / San Marcos

Change region

  90º

Updated 06/16/2010 08:39 AM

Gov. Perry camp shouted down in front of Bill White HQ

By: News 8 Austin Staff

  To view our videos, you need to
enable JavaScript. Learn how.
install Adobe Flash 9 or above. Install now.

Then come back here and refresh the page.


A campaign spokesman for Gov. Rick Perry was drowned out by during a campaign event outside the Democrat's campaign headquarters.

In an attempt to cast doubt the Democratic gubernatorial candidate's ethics, Texans for Rick Perry spokesman Mark Miner called a last minute news conference Tuesday to chide White over business dealings with a company that provided generators in Hurricane Rita's aftermath.

But a throng of White supporters engulfed Miner, drowning out his voice with chants of "Debate Bill White" and "Rick 'Chicken' Perry." Miner appeared unperturbed, continuing to speak to reporters.

"He has to come clean and release his tax returns for the years he served in public office. It's a very simple solution. Release the tax returns. There will be a debate," Miner said.

Perry has said he won't debate White until he releases the tax returns.

White supporters say Perry's campaign is only making demands as leverage to avoid a debate.

"If they get in a debate, you will see them have to talk about what they're going to do about this economy, about this budget deficit, about the state of this school system and about our environment," Rep. Mark Strama, D-Austin, said.

Miner said all of Gov. Perry's investments are in a blind trust, and he has no knowledge of whether he profits from his actions as governor.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.