These numbers represent the electorate’s favorable/unfavorable view of the political parties. As with the previous post, these come from a Republican shop. Rural Texas: 2000: Republicans 59% favorable, 26% unfavorable 2008: Republicans 56% favorable, 34% unfavorable The erosion is negligible. Urban-Suburban Texas: 2000: Republicans 62% favorable, 27% unfavorable 2008: Republicans 47% favorable, 42% unfavorable This is a drop of fifteen points. 2000: Democrats 49% favorable, 39% unfavorable 2008: Democrats 47% favorable, 43% unfavorable Democrats have actually lost ground. The big question that the pundits keep asking is why Obama can’t close the deal. (Hey, it’s August. Voters don’t really pay attention until after the conventions.) But the problem may not be Obama at all. In Texas, at least, it appears that the Democrats are still not viewed as credible. And for a very good reason: They don’t have a recognizable name on the ballot. Rick Noriega isn’t it. The Republican brand has been decimated, but the Democrats have not benefited.