Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who finished last in the GOP four-way race for lieutenant governor, released a list of 10 reasons why he’s not supporting state Sen. Dan Patrick in the May 27 runoff.

AUSTIN — Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson, who finished last in the four-way Republican race for lieutenant governor in the March primary, hurled a new attack at state Sen. Dan Patrick on Thursday: Vietnam War draft dodger.

And it drew a quick rebuke from Patrick’s camp, which responded via a news release saying Patrick was indeed drafted and later determined to be medically ineligible to serve in the war because of childhood injuries.

Patterson, in a press conference Thursday to endorse Lt. Gov David Dewhurst in the May 27 runoff against Patrick, released a David Letterman-style Top Ten list of reasons why he’s NOT supporting Partick.

No.3 on the list: “Won’t support a draft dodger.”

“It’s my view that Dan Patrick needs to explain how he failed to be drafted in the years 1970, ’71 and ’72,” Patterson said, making a case that Patrick should have been called into service under the draft lottery. “Their may be a good reason.”

(listen to Patterson’s argument)

http://blog.mysanantonio.com/texas-politics/files/2014/05/Jerry-Patterson-raising-questions-about-Dan-Patrick-and-the-Vietnam-War-draf.mp3

Patrick’s camp quickly blasted the move as a political stunt pulled off by Patterson on behalf of Dewhurst and demanded an apology.

“While I greatly appreciate the military service of both David Dewhurst and Jerry Patterson, the fact that they would attempt to smear me, and question my patriotism, is reprehensible. These men have no honor; they know no shame.”

A snippet of the Partick statement below:

“In 1972, after being drafted, Dan reported for a physical examination to Fort Holabird in Baltimore, Maryland. Dan was quickly determined medically ineligible to serve due to childhood injuries. Dan had broken his right leg twice due to a bone cyst and doctors thought it might cause him to lose the limb. He also had suffered a serious knee injury while playing high school sports. These injuries prevented him from being accepted into the service and he received a medical deferment.”

The Patrick campaign on Thursday also released a Top Ten list of its own — this one on why “to give Dewhurst the boot.”