Democratic ticket toppers seek votes on 'fair shot' bus tour

With less than 500 hours to go before voters in Texas make their final ballot decisions, ticket-topping Democrats are "busing" their message to towns, large and small, throughout the Lone Star State.

It is being called the "Fair Shot" tour, a bid to persuade a passel of voters who've proven, for decades, extra tough for Democrats to turn out.

Texas gubernatorial candidate Lupe Valdez says that's why young voters have been a prime target.

"The youth is the economy of tomorrow and we need to take care of them," explains Valdez. "We need to help them get educated so that our economy will continue to be strong. It's not just okay for it to be strong now. We need to look into the future."

Unable to take on his elusive opponent "face-to-face," Democratic candidate for Lieutenant Governor Mike Collier says hitting the pavement to places like Port Arthur and Prairie View gives him the chance to tell everyday Texans that incumbent Dan Patrick isn't making their life better.

"The reason he won't engage is he won't defend his record and I'm certain of that," says Collier. "Property taxes are way up and school funding is way down and he's just hoping to ride out this election cycle."

That's why Collier and fellow Democrats are putting in the kind of miles they hope will ultimately matter.

Joining Valdez and Collier on the road, Roman McAllen, candidate for Texas Railroad Commissioner, Miguel Suazo, candidate for Texas Land Commissioner, Joi Chevalier, candidate for State Comptroller and Kim Olson, the Democratic nominee for Agriculture Commissioner.