In a dramatic split from Governor Rick Perry, Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst and Speaker Craddick today sent a letter to state auditor John Keel asking for a top-to-bottom audit of the Texas Department of Transportation, the agency that is responsible for carrying out Perry’s grand vision for curing Texas’s transportation woes,
These are the latest Texas polls listed on the RealClearPolitics.com Web site. All surveys are of likely voters:SurveyUSA 02/16 – 02/18660 LV Clinton 50, Obama 45 CNN 02/15 – 02/17529 LVClinton 50, Obama 48Rasmussen 02/14 – 02/14577 LVClinton 54, Obama 38InsiderAdvantage02/14 – 02/14403 LV Clinton 48, Obama 41TCUL/Hamilton02/11 – 02/13400
The ad blitz against Republican incumbents Phil King, Betty Brown, and Nathan Macias occurred as the result of a split in the horseracing community, I have learned from sources familiar with what is taking place. Racing interests have grown increasingly dissatisfied with the lack of progress toward the legalization of
Tom Craddick may have lost four to five Craddick Democrats and another four face difficult races for re-election. But he has taken out insurance. Craddick has recruited primary and general election challengers to a number of Democratic legislators in low-turnout minority districts, including longtime incumbents Paul Moreno, Rene Oliveira, and
I am NOT attempting to pass myself off as an expert on Texas campaign finance law. I did have a conversation with someone who is. I think the best way to write this is a Q and A format:Q. Can an officeholder make contributions directly from his campaign funds to
Yesterday’s post about the Haggerty-Margo race (“Campaign Central 2/17: Dueling Polls in the Haggerty-Margo Race Show Different Results”) did not include any details about the internal Haggerty poll or the campaign’s tracking poll. I noted this in the post and e-mailed the Haggerty campaign asking for some numbers. I also
A supporter of Corbin Van Arsdale in his bitter Republican primary battle with Allen Fletcher (and Dan Patrick) sent me a copy of a campaign letter sent out by a Fletcher supporter named Mark Shirley. It characterizes — I should say, mischaracterizes — my blog posting about the race on
Karl was on Fox tonight talking about Tuesday’s Wisconsin primary, which Obama is leading but not by much; the RealClearPolitics.com average of three recent polls shows Obama with 46.3% of the vote and Clinton with 42%.Rove made the point that the Wisconsin electorate is very different from those in the
Here are links to the ads funded by horseracing interests against Betty Brown and Nathan Macias:Betty Brown “Followers”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8fs5DMYB80Nathan Macias “Courage”http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sL2FKwDk540Here is the text of the spot against Betty Brown:[Male voice] There are leaders in Austin and there are followers . Betty Brown is not a leader /
An El Paso Times/News Channel 9 Poll shows Dee Margo with a 43% to 31% lead over Pat Haggerty in the Republican primary battle in El Paso that features a Tom Craddick supporter (Margo) against one of Craddick’s most vociferous critics. The poll surveyed 1,164 likely Republican primary voters–a very
Yesterday I posted the text from the ad featuring Pat Haggerty’s mom. Here is the video link.Challenger Dee Margo has two ads. The first is positive:[Male Voice] El Paso deserves a strong conservative voice in Austin, an effective Republican leader like Dee Margo. He built a successful
My fellow Texans:I have done some serious investigative reporting on an issue of great importance to all Texans: barbecue. I can prove that Mike Huckabee DOES NOT DESERVE YOUR VOTE.February 8: Huckabee appears on the Colbert Report and says, “I’ll win Texas because I understand barbecue.” But he
The ad criticizing Phil King, the first inklings of which I posted earlier today, is up and running. You can view the ad on the Quorum Report. Here is the text:[An electric light bulb is hanging in a dark room. A hand pulls down a chain and the light comes
I received a call this morning saying that racing interests were playing in Republican primaries, aiming to defeat candidates aligned with Craddick in hopes of getting a speaker more favorable to their industry. I made some calls, and the information I gleaned was something less than corroboration and something more
This is a release from the Haggerty campaign:EL PASO – Today, Pat Haggerty will begin airing a political commercial titled “Mom” which features Pat and his mother Eleanor Haggerty. The ad strikes a positive, and humorous tone in stark contrast to Dee Margo’s negative ads that are mostly recycled ideas
This is the most talked-about House race in the state. It’s hard to cut through the fog of war to know what is really happening. Lobby talk: King has a bad internal poll. No, another poll shows he is doing fine. I talked to a lobbyist who had met Tison
I attended the Democratic Senate debate last night on the University of Texas campus. Four candidates have entered the primary, but the debate was between State Representative Rick Noriega (who was identified on the Power Point as Lt. Col. Rick Noriega) of Houston and teacher Ray McMurrey of Corpus Chriti.
Thanks to the Travis County Democratic Party for sending along this explanation of the situation concerning public attendance at the debate. The letter is signed by Chris Elliott, chair of the TCDP. Fellow Democrats:Amidst all of the excitement about the Clinton/Obama debate in Austin next Thursday, February 21st, at 7:00
This did not seem to be much of a race when I was in the Valley in January. Pena had defeated Saenz by 64-36 in 2004, and Saenz had received a widely publicized DUI. But it has turned into a brutal race. Pena faces the prospect of a high turnout,
I received an e-mail from a knowledgeable party saying that 100 public tickets would be avilable for the CNN Democratic debate. The Democratic party Web site does not have this information, and I have no official confirmation.
This was just posted on the Statesman Web site. It’s right in keeping with the state Democratic party’s decision to have 102 of the state’s 228 Democratic delegates be reserved for party functionaries. As long as the party continues to be a private playground, it will continue to be irrelevant.
A reader writes, in response to my post about Abraham Lincoln’s birthday,Good post Paul. I’m in the middle of reading Doris Goodwin’s “Team of Rivals.” At the same time I’m helping out on Wade Gent’s campaign (see previous post), which, on more than one occasion has resulted in me
Nine minutes are left in Abraham Lincoln’s birthday. I wonder what the Republican party’s greatest president would have to say if he were around today to see the conservatives in his party — I’m sure he would regard them as radicals, a word in vogue in his day — try
BROWN – GENT (Kaufman and Henderson counties)A story is making the rounds late this afternoon that Tom Craddick has asked Republican members who are unopposed or do not have serious opposition to contribute $10,000 to Betty Brown, who is in a tight primary race against Wade Gent. This is based
CNN, Fox, call Virginia for Obama … exit polls showed Obama over Clinton by 2 to 1 in VA and MD, 3 to 1 in DC … McCain, Huckabee close in Virginia.
After today’s Potomac Primary, here’s what is left:2/19 Hawaii caucuses, Wisconsin primary.3/4 Texas, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont primaries3/8 Wyoming primary (D)3/11 Mississippi primary4/22 Pennsylvania primary5/6 Indiana and North Carolina primaries5/13 West Virginia primary (D), Nebraska Primary (R)5/20 Kentucky and Oregon primaries6/3 Montana, New Mexico (R), and South Dakota primariesThe most
HAGGERTY – MARGO (El Paso)This is a pivotal contest in the speaker’s race. Dee Margo is a well known local business leader whose wife is a close friend of Laura Bush. He failed in a bid to unseat Senator Eliot Shapleigh in 2006. That race wasn’t close; this one
This is from someone who never eats French fries (you might as well glue them to your hips). But today at lunch at Louie’s 106 in Austin (106 E. 6th, 512-476-2010), my steely resolve crumbled. These frites de les frites (is that a term?) were about
CORTE – KOSUB (San Antonio)This is an e-mail I received from a Kosub supporter:Frank Corte is facing primary opposition due to his stance on toll roads and the Trans Texas Corridor. I know because I helped recruit Tony Kosub. Corte is a “conservative” turned tax and spend Republican
The phone rang yesterday, and the caller asked if I would agree to answer questions for a survey on current affairs. The first questions were about whether I intended to vote and who I had voted for in the past. Then right track/wrong track. Then I was asked if I
The Huck swept to an easy victory today in the Kansas caucuses, clobbering presumptive GOP nominee John McCain and winning all 36 delegates. One has to ask, To what end? He has no chance to win the nomination; he has to win 93% of the remaining delegates. Vice-president remains an
VAN ARSDALE – FLETCHER (Houston)I heard a report earlier this week that Craddick was suddenly panicked about this race. The image of Craddick as “panicked” doesn’t readily present itself, but the race has become an important battle in Craddick’s fight to hold onto the speakership.Fletcher, of course, is Dan Patrick’s
P. KING – TISON (Weatherford)You have to hand it to Phil King. No matter how many stories the Star-Telegram writes about his taking campaign cash from the industries he represents, the chairman of Regulated Industries keeps right on doing it. Yesterday’s article related King’s acknowledgement that he had accepted
Karl was on Fox’s early morning news show. He had a white slateboard on which he had scrawled the upcoming primaries, and he said which candidate he thought would win each state. He gave both Texas and Ohio to Hillary. I agree that Hillary will carry Texas because of the
A friend e-mailed me this report from the Corpus Christi Caller-Times:Vice President Dick Cheney will be at the Armstrong Ranch this weekend quail hunting and visiting longtime friend, former U.S. ambassador to Great Britain Anne Armstrong and her family, Mrs. Armstrong said Thursday afternoon.
Texas has not had a meaningful presidential primary since 1988, when Michael Dukakis won Texas and a couple of other big primaries on Super Tuesday. We’re going to have one on March 4. The Republican race is over, with the withdrawal of Mitt Romney, although Mike Huckabee apparently intends to
I’m going to post current information on campaigns under this headline, when it is available.Moreno vs. Marquez (El Paso)El Paso radio station KVIA is reporting that veteran legislator Paul Moreno erroneously claimed on his Web site to hold a J.D. degree from the University of Texas law school. In fact,
Among the contributors to Pat Haggery’s campaign in his pivotal race against Craddick-backed Dee Margo are Republican House members who are leaders of the anti-Craddick insurgency:Byron Cook $1,000Edmund Kuempel $3,000Brian McCall $2,500Jim Pitts $5,000Todd Smith $2,000In raising an eye-popping $149,000 in January, Haggerty also reeled in some major contributions from
[also published on Poll Dancing]From Fox News:With 180 of 184 of precincts reporting, Clinton held the narrowest of leads — 65,845 votes, or 43 percent, to Obama’s 65,728 votes, or 42.9 percent, according to preliminary returns provided by Democratic Party Chairman Brian Colon.Colon said results from four precincts were
Hillary 54.5%Obama 32.4%I think this is all early vote.Over and out.No, I’m addicted, I can’t quit.18% of the vote:McCain 43.5% 389,655Romney 25.8% 230,771Huckabee 11.7% 104,632Total turnout McCain is the Republican nominee. It’s over.Democrats:Clinton 54.3 606,855Obama 33.2% 370,260Democratic turnout exceeds Republican turnout by 34% (20% of the precincts reporting)
The first numbers are in from California: Hillary 55%, Obama 32%, and that represents about a 225,000 vote lead. The delegates are chosen by congressional district, and it is going to take a long time to do the math. Hillary’s lead in Missouri is down to 9,000 votes, from about
Fox is saying McCain pulled into the lead in Missouri by a thousand votes. Bill Kristol says that McCain is running very well in St. Louis County, the suburbs, and he thinks McCain will ultimately win the state.Fred Barnes: tonight is a twofer for John McCain. He has done well,
Stu Rothenberg commenting on the numbersCurrent vote (Missour):Huckabee 35%McCain 32%Romney 27%Numbers could move. Huckabee not running well in the suburbs. Lots of suburban and St. Louis vote still out.3/4 of Missouri Rs say abortion should be illegal. Three candidates split them.1/4 are pro choice 1/2 of Missouri Rs are favorable
Scott Horsley in Phoenix — Went according to plan in the East Coast. Hit the big winner take all states to make his nomination seem inevitable. (Maybe this is why he left California.) They didn’t worry as much about the South, because Huckabee was stronger there than Huckabee. More concerned
“Over the last few days, a lot of people have been saying that this is a two-man race, and you know what? It is, and we’re in it.”Doesn’t McCain have to take Huckabee as his vice-president?
Clinton HDQ in NY: Candy Crowley says Clinton campaign always saw the Northeast as a stronghold. Happiest about Massachusetts, they were worried about Kennedy endorsement … but no major surprises. Already accepted four debates, want a debate a week with Obama.Obama HDQ in Chicago: Trying to look at the bright
Juan Williams: Hillary has had a very good night. Kristol: Not a great night for McCain, hasn’t done what other frontrunners have done, but Romney has to win Missouri and the popular vote in California to be credible.Carl Cameron in Tempe: McCain folks are congratulating Huckabee, and saying that Romney
Fox said Obama’s lead in the exit polls evaporated in NJ and narrowed in Alabama, but there was enough of a vote to win the state.Still too close to call:Rove on Missouri: Looking at Sec of State web site. McCain carrying suburban counties in suburban St Louis and McCain. Rove
Fox calls Massachusetts for Clinton, despite Kennedy endorsement. Laura Ingram (talk show host) on Fox: Huckabee taking votes away from McCain, not Romney. Question: What could McCain say to you to get youy to support him? Ingram: I support the Republican ticket. Question: Aren’t you concerned that your criticism of
Georgia is very close 23% inHuckabee 34%McCain 32%Romney 22%Romney is doing best in the area around Atlanta. It’s where 25% of the votes are. He’s winning several counties, but his margins are narrow in DeKalb County, doing better in Cobb County. This is good reporting. They have a county by