In the wake of her mis-statement on the Glenn Beck radio show, and subsequent attacks from every corner of the universe, gubernatorial candidate Debra Medina held a press conference in Houston this afternoon. It was an interesting experience but I'm still not sure if this event hurts or helps her campaign.

I'm still not sure because, as the old saying goes, all publicity is good publicity. Especially for a cash starved campaign competing against two very well funded campaigns. Medina campaign manager Penny Langford Freeman estimated that over $60,000 had come into the campaign coffers since the now infamous Glenn Beck interview. Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison most likely burn more than that in jet fuel daily but by Medina campaign standards, that is a chunk of change.

At the press conference, I noted Houston television reporters Phil Archer of Click Two Houston and Ted Oberg of ABC Local 13. In addition, the Houston Chronicle's Joe Holley, radio talk show host Michael Berry's producer, and a guy from 740 KTRH. Sorry, I don't know their names. Here is a link to Mr. Archer's very fair report (do I have to keep saying that or can we get over the "media bias" thing?). I don't think that Mr. Oberg has his up and the Chron is running an AP story instead of Mr. Holley's reporting.

Mostly it was routine stuff. Mr. Archer pressed her pretty hard on her contention that the criticism was a result of a "coordinated attack" from the Perry and Hutchison camps. Which I thought was pretty lame but she didn't present it as fact - she was asked how it felt. I suppose I could see that although she must learn to choose her words more carefully.

Some dude asked if she thought that she had contributed to the "madness" by not answering Mr. Beck's question. Here is her answer:

Pretty much as I suspected after talking to her many times over the last year. I suppose I will be forever in wonder at why this caused such a controversy at all.

Later, another guy asked if she thought that her appearance on the Alex Jones show added fuel to the "truther" comments because he is a known lover of all conspiracy theories. Later came this question on the same subject and why her campaign was severely criticized versus two of Gov. Perry's supporters.

I thought she handled that one very well. Amazing what Sen. Patrick can get away with, no? Here is the video, note what Sen. Patrick tells this real live, for certain Truther:

Great to be on with you, appreciate everything you do out there for the cause.

Is Sen. Patrick supporting Truthers? And then he proceeds to talk about Gov. Perry putting the state on alert, which his spokesman Court Koenning denies he said. Interesting what you find out there in Google land. But that is off subject.

Back to the subject at hand, I'm going to stick with my thoughts from shortly after this "controversy" was made public: it isn't going to hurt her campaign much at all. Hey, I said it, no sense in turning back now. Real people can listen for themselves and decide - no campaign attacks or media reports needed.