Attorney General Greg Abbott (R) is putting some distance between himself and rocker Ted Nugent ahead of joint appearances for Abbott’s gubernatorial campaign.
Nugent and Abbott, the likely Republican nominee for governor, are expected to appear at a campaign events Tuesday in Wichita Falls and Denton Texas.
“Ted Nugent is a forceful advocate for individual liberty and constitutional rights — especially the 2nd Amendment rights cherished by Texans,” Abbott campaign spokesman Michael Hirsch said according to the Los Angeles Times. “While he may sometimes say things or use language that Greg Abbott would not endorse or agree with, we appreciate the support of everyone who supports protecting our Constitution.”
Nugent has a bad habit of saying outlandish and offensive things. He once called President Barack Obama a “Chicago communist-raised, communist-educated, communist-nurtured subhuman mongrel…ACORN community organizer gangster.” He also called the president a “chimpanzee” and said that former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has “spare scrotums.” Nugent also caught the Secret Service’s attention after he said that he would rather be “dead or in jail” if Obama won a second term.
Democrats were quick to attack Abbott, who is expected to face state Sen. Wendy Davis (D) in the general election, for appearing with Nugent.
“Texans deserve better than a statewide office holder and candidate running for governor who welcomes Ted Nugent and his repugnant comments,” Texas Democratic Party Chairman Gilberto Hinojosa said on Monday according to Politico.
Davis’s campaign also criticized Abbott for appearing with Nugent.
“Greg Abbott’s embrace of Ted Nugent is an insult to every Texan— every man, woman, husband, and father,” Davis said in a statement. “If this is Greg Abbott’s idea of values, it’s repulsive.”
This post was updated.
