Sen. Leticia Van de Putte of San Antonio, the lieutenant governor nominee, was in her element as she laughed, talked and hugged her way through the Texas Democratic Convention. Davis also made the convention rounds, sharing embraces and posing for photos. The family story that Davis shared with the convention was one of spending summers with her grandmother, learning the value of hard work in a way that she said was loving, but sounded like an endurance test. Snapping green beans until my fingers were sore," Davis recounted, "standing in her kitchen, sweat running down my back as we canned vegetables to the relentless hiss-hiss of her old, faithful pressure cooker. When I talked with Van de Putte last year about her relationship with Davis, working to learn more about the Fort Worth senator before she announced her candidacy for governor, we talked about topics including Davis' fine taste in clothes. Van de Putte, whose maiden name is San Miguel, is a campaign trail natural and has strength as a Latina at a time when outreach to Hispanics is crucial.