Texas Gov. Greg Abbott went on Fox News and tried to tie his Democratic challenger to Sharia law. Critics weren’t impressed.
In a clip posted to social media, Abbott went after state Rep. Gina Hinojosa (D-Austin) over support he said she has received from the Council on American-Islamic Relations. “ABBOTT SLAMS HINOJOSA FOR HAVING CAIR ORG SUPPORT,” read the Fox News chyron. Abbott claimed Hinojosa supports Sharia law.
Hemant Mehta, who writes the Friendly Atheist blog, pointed out a problem with the attack.
“They’re using Islamophobia against a Catholic Latina now,” Mehta wrote.
The progressive MeidasTouch account was equally unimpressed: “They’re really desperate eh.”
Democratic strategist Josh Schwerin, a co-founder of the firm 22 Characters who has worked for Priorities USA, Hillary Clinton and the DCCC, summed it up in one word: “Desperation.”
Even a scholar at a conservative think tank found it funny. Stan Veuger, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute, predicted Abbott would win but mocked the attack.
“I assume he’ll win, but it’s amusing to see the struggles of these guys who’ve never faced a competitive general election,” Veuger wrote.
Abbott, a Republican first elected governor in 2014, is seeking a fourth term. Hinojosa, an Austin attorney and former school board president, has served in the Texas House since 2017.