Pollsters are the palm readers and crystal ball gazers of politics, and in a business notable for short attention spans and an intense desire for instant gratification, they're popular right now. Save the catcalls for November 7. Some polls are murkier than others, but that doesn't keep bloggers — and the mainstream media — from reporting on them, analyzing them, and trying to conjure up a vision of a winner.
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Numerology
Citing polls, Eye on Williamson County urges Trans-Texas Corridor opponents who've been supporting Independent candidate Carole Keeton Strayhorn (aka "Grandma") to switch their votes to Democratic candidate Chris Bell. They say, "... it's time to accept reality and realize that just like during the great depression, and in the time before the Republicans took over this state, only the Democratic Party can save your family farm."
He's a newcomer to blogging, but that doesn't keep Texas Monthly political editor Paul Burka from regularly sharing the scoop he's able to dig up. On BurkaBlog, Burka says a new poll (the source of which he cannot name) puts Republican Gov. Rick Perry at 42%, with everyone else in the teens (except for Undecided who pulls in 20%). He goes on to critique and grade the latest round of television ads in the governor's race. It looks like no one will make the A-B Honor Roll.
Houtopia on the recent Survey USA poll: "The only chance to beat Perry at this point is if Grandma beats him to a pulp over the next six weeks, while Perry's opposition coalesces around Bell. For that to happen, Bell must be on TV — statewide — for the last month running positive ads, an expensive and unlikely proposition. Stranger things have happened."
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Kinky Stirs the Pot
The other Independent candidate for governor, Richard "Kinky" Friedman, continues to get blog (and msm) coverage for an old "comedy" routine that included racist remarks and for his proposal to legalize marijuana.
The Pine Blog said, "Personally, I don't see how I can vote for the man without being drunk — and, I haven't been drunk since I was a toddler (long, sad story). But, the problem is that the alternatives aren't that exciting either. While I have no idea how to solve our drug problem in the state/country, I have a hard time believing that legalizing pot will do the trick."
WilcoWise said Texas Democrats should not get their hopes up that Kinky's bad press will positively impact the Bell campaign. "Nothing Kinky said 20+ years ago is going to help Chris Bell hobble into that dinky, yet over-decorated, mansion on Colorado Street. Not even if Kinky puts on one of those Cedar Park thongs and dances the macarena with Leslie on the steps of the Capitol."
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Cheap — but Effective?
Texas candidates are paying attention to Internet media. Their ads can be found all over the web, even on blogs that have been unfriendly to certain candidates.
Evan at Rick Perry vs. The World was puzzled by Strayhorn's advertisement on Red State. He said, "Most of the folks at Red State have probably made up their mind, most of 'em for Perry. Red State doesn't exactly seem to be the place she'd be advertising, but then, I haven't exactly figured out her advertising strategy. And that, I think is the problem: she's all over the place."
As for her ads on Pink Dome, the writer of that blog said he doesn't discriminate against any candidate. "They pay real American dollars to advertise on PinkDome. Until you guys start sending me wads of cash I get paid wherever I can."
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On the Campaign Trail
Pink Dome has photos of campaign signs for Rep. Martha Wong, R-Houston, before and after a makeover.
Burnt Orange Report is calling rent payments from Rep. Gene Seaman, R-Corpus Christi, to his wife with campaign funds "CondoGate." Contributor M. Eddie Rodriguez suggests readers not follow Rep. Seaman's example: "... if you (sic) doing something illegal or crooked, own up to it and don't throw your wife under the bus. It makes you look like a coward and crappy husband." That story broke in Texas Weekly, but it's gained traction with Corpus Christi media and remains in the conversation a couple of weeks later.
Musings, a Sugar Land-based blog, is concentrating heavily on Rep. John Davis, R-Houston, his campaign expenditure reports, and a complaint filed against him with the Texas Ethics Commission.
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It's Not Too Soon
This election isn't even over and people are starting to speculate about who will run for what in 2010, the next time the statewide offices will be on the ballot. Houston senator-apparent Dan Patrick is rumored to be sending out a mailer next week to people across the state. Evan at Rick Perry vs. The World said, "I'd say the smart money is on Patrick running statewide in '10. The question is whether he decides to try and take on Dewhurst or Kay Bailey for governor, or whether he runs for a lower statewide office. Imagine how much fun a Dan Patrick/David Dewhurst/Kay Bailey Hutchison primary would be." And Patrick hasn't even taken his first oath of office. Or won a general election.
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Why Haven't They Thought of Air Fresheners?
Vince Leibowitz at Capitol Annex riffed on a story in the Waco Tribune-Herald where Sen. Kip Averitt, R-McGregor, stated his support of four new coal-burning power plants in his district. wrote Leibowitz: "Averitt, evidently counting on the power plants to spew Fabreeze instead of filthy smoke, says air quality in the region will actually improve even with the coal plants in place."
Robyn Hadley cherry-picks the state's political blogs each week, looking for news, info, gossip, and new jokes. Robyn, a veteran of both journalism and the state Capitol, is the owner of Capitol Crowd, a networking site for people who work in and around state government. The opinions she quotes belong to the bloggers, and we're including their links so you can hunt them down if you wish. Please send comments, suggestions, gripes or retorts to Robyn at robyn@capitolcrowd.com, or to Texas Weekly editor Ross Ramsey, at ramsey@texasweekly.com.