12:00 AM CST on Tuesday, December 20, 2005

AUSTIN – Gov. Rick Perry's campaign is helping orchestrate letters to the editor designed to appear as spontaneous criticism of Carole Keeton Strayhorn.

In an e-mail to Perry supporters, North Texas field representative Lathan Watts offers "talking points and even sample letters" to help supporters write to The Dallas Morning News and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

According to the e-mail, the Perry campaign wants letter writers to accuse Mrs. Strayhorn of using her state comptroller's office for political purposes.

The Strayhorn campaign denounced the covert letter-writing assistance as unethical.

"They may have to resort to begging people to write letters to the editor, but that is a false and misleading tactic that we would never be involved in," said spokesman Mark Sanders.

But Robert Black, a Perry spokesman in Austin, defended the letter-writing effort.

"We will do whatever we can to help grass-roots Republicans express their outrage," Mr. Black said.

Wayne Slater

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