Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott (R) took to Twitter on Sunday to clarify that he didn't endorse a supporter's language when he thanked the person for a tweet referring to Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis (D) as "Retard Barbie."
Earlier in the weekend, Abbott thanked the user on Twitter following a tweet at the attorney general suggesting he would easily defeat Davis in a potential matchup for the governorship.
Abbott has announced plans to run to succeed current Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R), who will not run for reelection in 2014. Davis has been floated as a potential challenger, after seeing her national profile explode earlier this summer after filibustering an anti-abortion bill being debated in the state legislature. The bill eventually passed despite widespread Democratic opposition and large protests from pro-choice groups.
While Davis hasn't made a decision about a gubernatorial campaign, Democrats in Texas have jumped at the opportunity to put forth a high-profile candidate. An "I Want Wendy" petition drive has already been started by the state Democratic Party, hoping to nudge her into running. Davis has already made it clear that she's at least considering it.
"I do think that in Texas, people feel like we need a change from the very fractured, very partisan leadership that we've seen in our state governor right now," Davis said at a National Press Club luncheon earlier this month. "I can say with absolute certainty that I will run for one of two offices -- either my state senate seat, or the governor's."