Texas bloggers are speculating on the 2010 gubernatorial campaign. They're also squawking about judicial proceedings around the state, gabbing about endorsements of political candidates and keeping up the conversation about the U.S. Senate race. And, there's a list of random political-related postings, along with the return of the Headline of the Week award.

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Interested, but Not Committed

Texas Politics, the Houston Chronicle's blog, says Kay Bailey Hutchison is still being coy about her plans for 2010. "She's totally running for governor. I think," says Evan Smith in his State of Mine blog. Oh, and "She hates blogs!" (KBH's people called Smith later to say she only meant anonymous bloggers.)

Bloggers respond: "HOW CAN YOU HATE US?! YOU NEED US!!" screeches In the Pink. "Sounds like KBH doesn't like the heat on her feet from the fire the blogs bring," says musings. "Oh, Kay, people don't like being lied to, manipulated and sold down the river," chips in McBlogger, along with some fashion advice.

According to BurkaBlog, word is that Hutchison might run for governor and will resign from the Senate in 2009 to campaign. Neither Tony Garza nor David Dewhurst want to replace Hutchison, and Dewhurst hasn't decided if he wants to take on Hutchison yet. Michael Williams and Roger Williams (no relation) might run for governor, too.

After reading the National Journal, Professors conclude that Margaret Spellings is thinking about running for Governor.

As for the incumbent, Texas Observer Blog surmises that Perry's California sojourn was all about "establishing himself as a partisan attack dog — an ideal candidate for vice-president..." In other news, the Boy Scouts are giving Perry their Distinguished Citizen Award for 2007, says Texas Politics.

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Turning Legalese

The judge presiding over the trial of former Texas Southern University President Priscilla Slade declared a mistrial on Friday because jury members couldn't reach a unanimous decision. Professors-R-Squared suggest that jurors and Slade supporters take a tour of the TSU campus -- "Perhaps you could stay in the bat-infested dorm." -- and then decide if Slade's actions helped the University. Dos Centavos suggests that the TSU president acted like the president of any other Texas university, or any politician, for that matter.

The National Organization of Women has called on the House Judiciary Committee to investigate the actions of U.S. District Judge Sam Kent of Galveston, reports Texas Lawyer Blog.

The Harris County Criminal Lawyers Association and the Texas Civil Rights Project are filing complaints against Court of Criminal Appeals Presiding Judge Sharon Keller over her decision not to extend office hours on the day of Michael Richards's execution, says Texas Lawyer. Grits for Breakfast has a poll on the fate of the "Queen of Mean" and relays a piece from Reason magazine. "Adjectives fail me on this one," says Off the Kuff.

"Sure, Keller has long been considered a cold fish by many — lawyers, journalists, and those with even the barest hint of a pulse, among others — but her latest show of distaste for, really, her job, is mind-blowing," says Chronic, the Austin Chronicle's blog. And for those as outraged as Texas Kaos is, here's a complaint members of the general public can sign by Oct. 30.

Sam Houston is running for office again, this time as a Democrat against Supreme Court Justice Dale Wainwright, reports Half-Empty. "Now if only we could get some equally prestigious folks to run for the Court of Criminal Appeals, I'd be very happy," opines Kuff.

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Thumbs Up

Comptroller Susan Combs is heading up Rudy Giuliani's presidential campaign in Texas, says Trail Blazers, the Dallas Morning News's blog. Postcards from the Trail, the Austin American-Statesman's blog, has more here.

Former U.S. Senator Phil Gramm is in good with two presidential candidates: John McCain and Sam Brownback, reports Trail Blazers. Capitol Annex lists presidential endorsements by Texas members of Congress, courtesy of information from Southern Political Report.

Kuff agrees with the Houston Chronicle's endorsements of District B and C city council candidates and the newspaper's endorsement of cancer research amendment Proposition 15. On the other hand, PinkDome says, "I hate puppies and don't support cancer research." According to Postcards, Texas voters are with Kuff on this one.

Observer says the Edinburg mayor has endorsed Eddie Saenz over incumbent Rep. Aaron Peña, D-Edinburg, while the group Annie's List is backing Sandra Rodriguez over incumbent Rep. Kino Flores, D-Hidalgo.

Further down the ballot, Texas Cloverleaf is endorsing Karen Guerra for 16th District Court Judge.

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Senate Stuff

Burnt Orange Report has a lengthy interview with Democratic candidates Mikal Watts and Rick Noriega. Half-Empty posts a letter from Noriega's campaign about a recent trip to Washington, D.C.

Postcards says Cornyn might not be in political trouble for voting against the renewal and expansion of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, prompting Eye on Williamson to question the journalistic integrity of W. Gardner Selby. PinkDome, meanwhile, also asserts his disapproval of Selby's take. Houtopia concurs against Cornyn.

Watts is looking to hire a call time manager, and is willing to pay $3,500 per month, says Capitol Annex. Meanwhile, Texas Politics says that Noriega's campaign, citing a scarcity of funds, is having trouble keeping the State Representative's voting record straight.

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Random Politicking

State Rep. Brian McCall, R-Plano, spoke about the House speakership at the University of Texas, Burnt Orange reports. Burnt Orange lists a few good Dems they'd like to see in statewide judicial races. Democrat Virginia (Ginny) McDavid is running against Rep. Dwayne Bohac, R-Houston, says Centavos.

In the Pink and PinkDome each posted some videos. The party switch by Rep. Kirk England, D-Grand Prairie, is a sign of a power shift in Texas, says Chris Bell on Texas Blue. Texas Kaos has an overview of Dallas-Fort Worth area congressional races.

KVUE's Political Junkie Elise Hu caught Rep. Allen Vaught, D-Dallas, raising cash in Austin, while Trail Blazers reports on some Republican-on-Republican push polling in Plano.

And the winner of the Headline of the Week award goes to Chronic for a post on Goliad election fraud called, "Stealing Elections Like Grandpa Used To."

This edition of Out There was compiled and written by Patrick Brendel, who hails from Victoria and finds Austin's climate pleasantly arid. We cherry-pick the state's political blogs each week, looking for news, info, gossip, and new jokes. The opinions here belong (mostly) to the bloggers, and we're including their links so you can hunt them down if you wish. Our blogroll — the list of Texas blogs we watch — is on our links page, and if you know of a Texas political blog that ought to be on it, just shoot us a note. Please send comments, suggestions, gripes or retorts to Texas Weekly editor Ross Ramsey.

The campaign for Proposition 15 came in with about the amount of money and in-kind contributions the sponsors hoped for, but their campaigning hasn't yet spurred much voter interest in the constitutional amendments.

Turnout stinks so far. But there are ads popping up on cable, radio, the Internet and on billboards, so maybe things will turn. Here's a look at the last finance reports before the election:

• Yes on 15 — that's the group that's taking pharmaceutical contributions — raised $1.1 million during October. The vast majority of that was in-kind contributions from outfits with advertising space or air time: Time Warner Communications gave $500,000, Comcast gave $150,000, Clear Channel gave $135,000, Lamar Advertising gave $110,400, Suddenlink gave $72,500, and Reagan Outdoor gave $23,450.

• Texans to Cure Cancer — the group headed by former Comptroller John Sharp — raised $111,007 in October, most of that listed as in-kind contributions from the Lance Armstrong Foundation and the American Cancer Society.

• A third group — called A Cure in Your Lifetime — raised $10,100 (everything in front of the comma came from the Fulbright and Jaworski law firm) and had that amount on hand with a week to run.

A quick guide to the 16 constitutional amendments, so your friends will think you're a genius, or a mook, or both, and so you won't get caught wondering what's up if you vote.

How they appear on the ballot, and what would happen if each one passes (some are clear, and some are, well, written by lawyers):

• Prop. 1: "The constitutional amendment providing for the continuation of the constitutional appropriation for facilities and other capital items at Angelo State University on a change in the governance of the university."

Makes constitutional changes to move San Angelo State University's bond proceeds with the school to the Texas Tech University System from the Texas State University System.

• Prop. 2: "The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of $500 million in general obligation bonds to finance educational loans to students and authorizing bond enhancement agreements with respect to general obligation bonds issued for that purpose."

Just as it says: $500 million in bonds to fund student loans.

• Prop. 3: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to provide that the maximum appraised value of a residence homestead for ad valorem taxation is limited to the lesser of the most recent market value of the residence homestead as determined by the appraisal entity or 110 percent, or a greater percentage, of the appraised value of the residence homestead for the preceding tax year."

Limits homestead appraisal increases to 10 percent, changing the current limit of 10 percent per year, which can accumulate and cause evaluation changes of up to 30 percent.

• Prop. 4: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the issuance of up to $1 billion in bonds payable from the general revenues of the state for maintenance, improvement, repair, and construction projects and for the purchase of needed equipment."

A Plain Old Bond Program: $1 billion in bonds for construction, repair and maintenance of equipment and facilities for a number of state agencies, including Parks & Wildlife, State Health Services, the School for the Blind, the Youth Commission, Criminal Justice, and Public Safety.

• Prop. 5: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to permit the voters of a municipality having a population of less than 10,000 to authorize the governing body of the municipality to enter into an agreement with an owner of real property in or adjacent to an area in the municipality that has been approved for funding under certain programs administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture under which the parties agree that all ad valorem taxes imposed on the owner's property may not be increased for the first five tax years after the tax year in which the agreement is entered into."

Lets small towns — under 10,000 population — freeze appraised values of properties in redevelopment areas.

• Prop. 6: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt from ad valorem taxation one motor vehicle owned by an individual and used in the course of the owner's occupation or profession and also for personal activities of the owner."

Just as it says: Allows the Legislature to exempt a taxpayer's personal vehicle used for business or occupation purposes.

• Prop. 7: "The constitutional amendment to allow governmental entities to sell property acquired through eminent domain back to the previous owners at the price the entities paid to acquire the property."

Lets governments sell back property acquired through eminent domain to the original owners at the original price, with any appreciation going to the original owner and not to the government that held it.

• Prop. 8: "The constitutional amendment to clarify certain provisions relating to the making of a home equity loan and use of home equity loan proceeds."

Modifies home equity laws, making it illegal, for instance, to fund a home equity loan if anything substantive was left blank when the homeowner signed, and allowing people to obtain such loans in emergencies even if they're currently in mandated waiting periods from previous loans.

• Prop. 9: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the legislature to exempt all or part of the residence homesteads of certain totally disabled veterans from ad valorem taxation and authorizing a change in the manner of determining the amount of the existing exemption from ad valorem taxation to which a disabled veteran is entitled."

Exempts homesteads of disabled veterans from property taxes, on a sliding scale tied to the level of disability.

• Prop. 10: "The constitutional amendment to abolish the constitutional authority for the office of inspector of hides and animals."

Just as it says: Removes "inspectors of hides and animals" from the Constitution.

• Prop. 11: "The constitutional amendment to require that a record vote be taken by a house of the legislature on final passage of any bill, other than certain local bills, of a resolution proposing or ratifying a constitutional amendment, or of any other non-ceremonial resolution, and to provide for public access on the Internet to those record votes."

Requires the Legislature to record final votes on bills, but not on second readings and other procedural moves.

• Prop. 12: "The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of general obligation bonds by the Texas Transportation Commission in an amount not to exceed $5 billion to provide funding for highway improvement projects."

Straightforward: $5 billion in bonds for transportation.

• Prop. 13: "The constitutional amendment authorizing the denial of bail to a person who violates certain court orders or conditions of release in a felony or family violence case."

Allows judges to deny bail to people who've violated protective orders or who've violated bond orders in family violence cases.

• Prop. 14: "The constitutional amendment permitting a justice or judge who reaches the mandatory retirement age while in office to serve the remainder of the justice's or judge's current term."

Allows judges to serve out their terms even if they hit the mandatory retirement age of 75 while in office. One variant: Judges who become 75 in the first four years of a six-year term would have to leave after the fourth year.

• Prop. 15: "The constitutional amendment requiring the creation of the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and authorizing the issuance of up to $3 billion in bonds payable from the general revenues of the state for research in Texas to find the causes of and cures for cancer."

$3 billion in bonds for cancer research. This is the amendment with the heaviest promotion behind it, and if there's a draw on the ballot (other than local issues), this is it.

• Prop. 16: "The constitutional amendment providing for the issuance of additional general obligation bonds by the Texas Water Development Board in an amount not to exceed $250 million to provide assistance to economically distressed areas."

It does what it says: $250 million in bonds for water development in economically disadvantaged parts of the state, primarily along the Texas-Mexico border.

Mikal Watts dropped his Senate bid, and bloggers — vocal in their support of Rick Noriega — are surprisingly gracious in victory. They're less kind in their assessments of House Speaker Tom Craddick, giddy over campaign news and rumors, and mostly unenthusiastic about constitutional amendments. At the end, a list of bloggings related to important dates.

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Oh, Watt a world, Watt a world!

Brains and Eggs repeats his request for Watts to run for a statewide judicial position, and Capitol Annex lauds Watts as "a loyal Democrat." Meanwhile, Eye On Williamson says Watts' primary presence made the Texas Democratic Party stronger.

Half Empty has the "Top Ten Reasons Why Mikal Watts Dropped out of the Senate Race." McBlogger's number one explanation is that "running for office is a pain in the ass, especially statewide." And Musings relays a rumor that Watts had been saying that the Senate campaign was harder work than he expected.

Postcards from the Trail, the Austin American-Statesman's blog, notes that Watts' statement says he will support a Democrat to replace Cornyn, but doesn't mention opponent Noriega by name. Off the Kuff asks, Watts for Senate in 2010?

Texas Kaos has statements from 2006 Democratic Senate candidate Barbara Ann Radnofsky, Texas Democratic Party Chair Boyd Richie and U.S. Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Stafford. Trail Blazers speculates that "Fingers" Radnofsky has her "hands permanently affixed to her blackberry."

Greg's Opinion is, "There's still some upgrades that Team Noriega needs to make if they're to be credible and viable beyond a Democratic Primary." Houtopia appraises that credibility at about $10 to $12 million. Chronic, the Austin Chronicle's blog, wonders if Noriega's going to receive an allowance from the Watts war chest, and paints a Noriega vs. John Cornyn contest as "Old Texas vs. New Texas."

Off the Kuff thinks Texans must have passed a constitutional amendment mandating that newspapers include the name of former Comptroller John Sharp whenever speculating about a potential Democratic candidate.

After hearing a speech in Spring Branch, Kaos proclaims that Noriega "is the real deal." Political Junkie, KVUE's blog, has play-by-play of a Noriega press conference.

BurkaBlog says that Watts withdrew because he was going to lose. Trail Blazers, too, wonders if Watts might have wanted to spend a little bit more time with his fortune, in addition to the family. Texas Observer Blog wonders if Watts' decision to bail had anything to do with connections to "Pretender" Mauricio Celis.

As for incumbent Cornyn, Annex says the Junior Senator bowed down to an ideological fringe by voting against the federal DREAM Act. Half-Empty characterizes the vote as "another slap in the faces of children." And Dos Centavos passes on a statement from Noriega detailing how Cornyn exploited Hispanic children. However, Chronic thinks Cornyn's "not all bad."

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Speaking of Craddick…

Burnt Orange Report tabulates that out of the 15 original "Craddick Ds," 10 or fewer remain on Craddick's side. This prompted a rejoinder from another Burnt Orange poster. And Observer says Craddick is the reason behind the rift dividing Democratic Houston Reps. Garnet Coleman and Sylvester Turner, two men who should be friends, on paper.

PinkDome says that Craddick, when explaining to the Midland Lions Club that lawyers are out to get him, "failed to mention that he's a tyrant, loathed by members on both sides of the aisle," among other things. Speaker candidate Jim Keffer, R-Eastland, met the claim "with disdain," according to Postcards.

Texas Blue says Craddick's comment "projects his own weakness," while BurkaBlog says that Craddick is playing the lawyer card because he doesn't have many strong cards in his hand.

In a broader sense, Annex sees anti-attorneyism as a "major campaign theme of the Republicans for 2008." And Trail Blazers draws attention to a slight by Craddick of neighboring Rep. Buddy West, R-Odessa.

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Tidings and Loomings

Judge Leslie Southwick was confirmed to the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, reports StandDown Texas Project.

Virginia Stogner McDavid is officially in as the Democratic opponent to Rep. Dwayne Bohac, R-Houston, says Burnt Orange. Also, Fort Worth policeman Lee Jackson is taking on Rep. Bill Zedler, R-Arlington, in the primary.

Annex shines a flashlight on Republican Tom Cole's bid to unseat Rep. Jerry Madden, R-Richardson, and finds Cole's tough-on-crime campaign amusing. "That'd be like running an 'I Hate Illegal Immigrants More!' campaign against [Rep.] Leo Berman[, R-Tyler]."

Rumor has it, according to Right of Texas, that Madden wants to succeed U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson. Right also says that Cole's Web site is better than Madden's, and that Rep. Brian McCall, R-Plano, is being challenged by a Harvard graduate.

Lumberton school board member Mike Smith, a Republican, will square off against Rep. Mike Hamilton, R-Mauriceville, says Annex. Meanwhile, San Antonio City Council member Roland Gutierrez, a Democrat, is in to replace Rep. Robert Puente, D-San Antonio. Kuff figures that pro-Craddick entities will recruit a Craddick D to face Gutierrez.

Texas Lawyer Blog has twin postings on Place 7 for the Texas Supreme Court, announcing the candidacies of Democrats Baltasar D. Cruz, of Dallas, and Sam Houston, of Houston.

In HD 97 news, Burnt Orange has video of lone Democratic candidate Dan Barrett. Political Junkie highlights a not-so-great endorsement — "he seems to be fairly rational" — of former State Rep. Bob Leonard by seat-holder Anna Mowery, who resigned, as well as a spelling error by Leonard's campaign in a pro-education commercial.

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Propositional Phase

Annex has a four-parter about the constitutional amendments on the Nov. 6 ballot: one, two, three, four. Meanwhile, Musings's guide to the election goes like this: Whatever the Harris County Republican Party recommends, do the opposite. And Kuff's recommendations are here.

Observer has a piece on Proposition 11, record votes for Texas legislators. In the Pink Texas says Proposition 2, bonds for student loans, is "probably a good idea." Trail Blazers says former Pres. George H.W. Bush has hopped on the Proposition 15 bandwagon.

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Dating Game

Black Monday: Layoffs at the Houston Chronicle? via blogHOUSTON and Brains and Eggs.

Christmas: Editorials on the Christmas Mountains by Blue and Observer.

El Dia de Los Muertos: Attorney General Greg Abbott says he was powerless to stop the September 25 execution of Michael Richards, according to Texas Politics, the Houston Chronicle's blog.

Final Exams: Texas Education Agency Commissioner Robert Scott says he wants to reform the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills (TAKS) text, but Blue says the test is an unsalvageable failure.

Groundhog Day: Rep. Dan Branch, R-Dallas, comments on the Texas Senate's "Committee of the Whole," via Junkie.

Halloween: Dan Bartlett is ditching his White House duds to become a corporate consultant with Public Strategies, says Trail Blazers.

Memorial Day: An interactive map of American war casualties, from Mike Falick's Blog.

Nuzul Al-Quran: The Texas Youth Commission held its first post-conservatorship public hearing, from Grits for Breakfast.

Pay Day: Real-time earnings calculator, courtesy of Mike Falick.

This edition of Out There was compiled and written by Patrick Brendel, who hails from Victoria and finds Austin's climate pleasantly arid. We cherry-pick the state's political blogs each week, looking for news, info, gossip, and new jokes. The opinions here belong (mostly) to the bloggers, and we're including their links so you can hunt them down if you wish. Our blogroll — the list of Texas blogs we watch — is on our links page, and if you know of a Texas political blog that ought to be on it, just shoot us a note. Please send comments, suggestions, gripes or retorts to Texas Weekly editor Ross Ramsey.

The filing period for candidates is still a month away, but things are already getting ugly down in Senate District 21.

Sen. Judith Zaffirini, D-Laredo, who's been in office for two decades, has attracted two opponents: Louis Bruni, a former Webb County Judge who's running as a Republican for the first time, and San Antonio attorney Rene Barrientos, a Democrat who's hired a consultant, Colin Strother, and talked to other consultants, but who hasn't yet declared his official candidacy.

Both Bruni and Barrientos have deep pockets. Bruni, of Bruni Mineral Trust, has been running television ads against Zaffirini for several weeks already, and says he intends to self-finance his entire campaign. According to Strother, Barrientos is prepared to spend $2 million of personal money on the race.

Candidates willing to throw around seven-digit dollar amounts in a race like this have to be taken seriously, says Bexar County Commissioner Tommy Adkisson, whose Precinct 4 in east Bexar County falls inside SD-21. "Anybody that's financially situated like Rene Barrientos cannot be taken lightly," he says.

For her part, Zaffirini had about $820,000 on hand in July. She is prepared to also raise and spend $2 million on reelection, but doesn't think it will be necessary. "I have been outspent before, and I will be outspent again," she says.

Adkinson predicted that the Democratic primary will hinge upon how voters judge Zaffirini's relationship with Republicans in the Senate.

"This is not a sleeping senator. This is a senator who had to deal with the Republicans," he says. "How a Democrat deals with Republicans and how the public sees it is like beauty in the eye of the beholder. Some will say they crossed the line. Some will say they had to work with them in order to bring home the bacon."

Strother contends Zaffirini's tenure in office is marked by "corruption and influence peddling that goes on for miles and miles and miles."

"I guarantee that we are going to put a bright light on all her ethical lapses and all her bad votes," he says.

Bruni chimes in: "Never in my life have I met such an evil, vindictive, mean woman in my life, and I feel sorry for her, and may God bless her."

In response, Zaffirini says that if Barrientos "is a serious candidate, he needs to talk to reporters. He can't screen calls, can't have someone speak for him. Does this mean that if he runs, will I have to debate Colin Strother, respond to Strother? He seems to be hiding behind Colin Strother's skirts."

As to Bruni, Zaffirini says, "He's angry. He's expressing his emotion. He has the right. He certainly can afford it. I still consider him a friend. There's no hostility."

Bruni and Zaffirini go back about 15 years, and used to be on the friendliest of terms. Carlos Zaffirini, the senator's husband, was Bruni's attorney, she says, and Zaffirini herself helped Bruni campaign successfully, as a Democrat, for Laredo City Council in 1994 and 1998, and for County Judge in 2002.

Zaffirini says her understanding is that Bruni is angry with her because she did not endorse him in his 2006 reelection bid, where he finished last in the Democratic primary in a four-person field.

"In 2006 I did not endorse him," Zaffirini says. "When he demanded that I endorse him, I told him that I could not. I voted for him. I defended him to reporters who asked baiting questions about his performance and behavior. I have always spoken favorably of him, but I did not endorse him."

"She will put a knife in your back faster than a pirate," Bruni says.

"He blames me for his loss," Zaffirini says.

"Now he's pissed. This is revenge," says Strother.

Bruni says their relationship fell apart in 2004, when his brother Raymond Bruni challenged Zaffirini for the Senate seat, a contest Zaffirini won with 79 percent of the vote. "We all have one in the family," says Louis Bruni of his brother.

Louis Bruni says that during the campaign, Zaffirini instructed him to read a script for a 30-second advertisement calling his brother an alcoholic, a drug user and bipolar. "Even though my brother was suing me at the time, blood is thicker than water," he says.

However, Bruni says his reason for running is not because of a personal vendetta against Zaffirini, but because he thinks she caters to special interest groups, corporations and wealthy donors instead of serving constituents. Specifically, Bruni accuses Zaffirini of holding local bills hostage in the Senate in order to pressure Webb County officials to pass policies favorable to her husband's clients. He also faults her for voting against a tax increase on cigarettes, alleging she sided with tobacco lawyers, and for helping to pass tuition deregulation for higher education.

Zaffirini says the allegations about her husband's business are ridiculous.

"He would do better, in fact, and so would I, economically, if I were not in the Senate. If we were only to concentrate on business, we would make more money, not less," she says, pointing to the $600 per month she receives for being a senator. "They simply do not understand that loss of income is one of the sacrifices I have made to serve in the Texas Senate. They can say whatever they want. They obviously are irresponsible in their allegations."

Zaffirini says she has been a champion for local and state interests, particularly in education and health and human services, and for the causes of area groups like the residents of colonias.

She says that because of the bond she feels with Bruni, she will not attack him during the campaign. She has no such reservations about Barrientos, but says she'll formulate and enact a campaign plan once (and if) her opponents file.

Meanwhile, Strother says Zaffirini has contacted, or had intermediaries contact, about half of his clients trying to pressure him to stay out of the race.

Zaffirini says Strother is the one urging Barrientos to run, and that mutual friends she has with Barrientos have been advising him against it.

Strother, she says, is "unfairly painting a rosy picture for a man he's unfairly trying to persuade to run for office. It's a disservice to his client, a serious disservice. I believe any consultant has a responsibility to be fair and truthful to a client or potential client. Rene Barrientos cannot win this race."

If she's incorrect, and if Barrientos becomes the Democratic nominee, Bruni says he will run a completely positive general election campaign, without any negative ads about Barrientos.

"My goal and Barrientos' goal is to get rid of a cancer that exists in the Legislature in Austin," Bruni says. Bruni calls Zaffirini "one dangerous individual with a razor blade for a tongue, because she has a PhD in communications. Unfortunately, she has met her match with me, because everyone else is scared of her. I am not scared of her. She is scared of me."

Zaffirini counters: "I've always treated all my opponents respectfully and seriously, but if you look at my reelection record, I've carried every county every time in every election, whether primary or general. I'm very confident I will win this time."

 "She obviously is a little worried or wouldn't be spending quite this much time trying to get me out of the race," says Strother.

All three predict their opponents will use whisper campaigns and potentially libelous, anonymously authored advertisements broadcast across the border into South Texas by the Mexican media.

"Tira la piedra y esconde la mano," Bruni says. "She throws a rock and hides her hand."

"I have not responded in kind. I have not attacked him. I have not rebutted him. I'm just letting him vent. What can I tell him?" Zaffirini says.

"This will be a classic South Texas blood-and-guts, go-for-the-throat campaign," Strother says.

• There are two other contested Senate races so far, though the tongues aren't likely to be as sharp in those. Sen. Kim Brimer, R-Fort Worth, is facing a challenge from Democrat Wendy Davis, who gave up her Fort Worth City council spot to jump in the Senate race. Neither could be reached for comment this week, but Davis looks serious — she quit the council and listed Ralph McCloud as her campaign treasurer.

And Sen. Mike Jackson, R-La Porte, has a pair of Democratic challengers: Joe Jaworski, an attorney and former Galveston City Council member, and Bryan "Cable Guy" Hermann, a NASA contractor who graduated from Embry-Riddle in 2000.

One statehouse seat — the one vacated earlier this year by Rep. Anna Mowery, R-Fort Worth — is on the ballot and with seven candidates in the hunt, it'll be surprising if there's not a runoff.

Dan Barrett, the lone Democrat in the pack, raised $26,793 in October, spent $35,877, and had $2,592 in his war chest with eight days to go.

Craig Goldman raised $60,314, spent $107,327, and had $115,084 on hand for the last week of campaigning. He raised a little more than $10,000 more after that report, according to telegram reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission.

Chris Hatch brought in $5,355, spent $18,315, and had $436 in the till at the end of October.

Jeff Humber raised $1,950, spent $39,744, had $6,998 in the bank and owed $62,000 in loans.

Republican Bob Leonard raised $17,375, spent $83,096, and had $47,129 left for the last eight days of the race.

James Schull raised $1,100, spent $1,886, and had $211 on hand.

And Dr. James Shelton raised $25,225, spent $37,096, had $62,283 in the bank, and ended the month with $50,000 in outstanding loans.

A couple of new candidate names — interesting names, as it turns out — are contained in the latest campaign treasurer filings with the Texas Ethics Commission.

Those filings don't constitute formal announcements that candidates will run, but it's the first sign they're serious and thinking about raising or spending some money for the effort. The actual filings for office will start in December and end in about two months. And if Halloween didn't give you the heebie-jeebies like it used to, try this: the party primaries in Texas are in four months.

Jesus Carrillo joins Michael Williams in the race for Texas Railroad Commission with a name that could be confusing to some; Victor Carrillo — no relation that we know of to the new entrant — is already on the commission.

Will B. King filed papers to run in HD-114, where Republican Will Hartnett of Dallas is the incumbent state representative. Read the challenger's name aloud. If you use names like that in a novel, you lose credibility; nonfiction has its advantages.

• Angie Chen Button is officially in the hunt for Rep. Fred Hill's seat in the House. Hill isn't seeking reelection in HD-112. She starts with some names on her side: Republican hotshot Fred Meyer, the former Texas Party chairman and head of George W. Bush's inauguration committee; former Dallas GOP Chairman Bob Driegert, and Sen. Florence Shapiro, R-Plano.

• Mike Pearce, a Harker Heights Republican who's running to replace retiring Rep. Dianne White Delisi in the House, picked up an endorsement from the Texas Eagle Forum PAC.

• Annie's List endorsed Sandra Rodriguez, a Democrat running against an incumbent Democrat in South Texas. She'll face Rep. Kino Flores, D-Palmview, in the March primaries for HD-36. The group, which generally stays out of incumbent Democrats' races, accuses Flores of "selling out to the Republican leadership in the Texas House."

• Put former Republican gubernatorial candidate Clayton Williams Jr. in the Rudy Giuliani camp. Williams announced his support at a Midland fundraiser and told the local paper, "I didn't find a single thing I disagree with him on."

Turnout in Tuesday's constitutional amendment election will probably be under 10 percent, according to Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson.

He says he wishes he could predict a bigger number, but thinks 9.5 percent of the state's registered voters will actually show up for this deal.

The last constitutional election — in November 2005 — drew 17.9 percent of the registered voters. And a constitutional amendment election in September 2003 drew 12.2 percent, according to the Secretary of State's website. One in 2001 drew only 6.9 percent of the state's registered voters.

Republican Jim McGrody, one of two challengers to U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, has decided not to run.McGrody was relying on an aggressive Internet and word of mouth campaign, but said in an email to supporters that he's out for financial reasons: "Due to financial considerations, I have decided to withdraw my name from contention for the Republican nomination for Texas Congressional District 23. My Campaign will officially terminate its filing with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) and will return all financial contributions to its donors. My wife and I have appreciated the many kindnesses afforded to us along the way — and, we look forward to returning to a less hectic pace." That leaves Republican Francisco "Quico" Canseco as the sole declared challenger. Canseco started campaigning early — he's been running radio ads for weeks even though the primary's not until March. As it turns out, he might not have a race until next autumn, leading up to the general election. McGrody wasn't on the financial map yet — the Federal Election Commission doesn't have any reports for him on its website. Rodriguez, the incumbent, had $592,062 in the bank at the end of September. Canseco, who sparked his campaign with personal loans, had $303,553 in cash, and $813,166 in debt at that date.

The shoe falls at the Houston Chronicle.

The Houston Chronicle's layoffs reached that paper's Austin Bureau. Polly Ross Hughes, who wrote about health and human services, among other subjects, during a decade at the paper, is looking. So is Amy Raskin, the paper's office manager, researcher and sometimes reporter. The layoffs are part of a five percent cut at the paper announced last week by publisher Jack Sweeney; that's about 70 people throughout the paper (not just in the news department). At another Hearst-owned Texas paper, the San Antonio Express-News is tallying the number of people who took that buyout; if too few took that option, the company warned employees that layoffs will follow.

• Lobbyist Joe DaSilva left the Texas Hospital Association, where he's been for almost three decades, to open his own shop. The DaSilva Strategic Group will do lobbying, communications and strategery.

• Event Horizon: Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama will make an Austin fundraising appearance on November 17, appearing at The Backyard — usually a spot for big-time musical acts — for $25 per... and on December 6, presidential consigliere Karl Rove will be the headliner at a Associated Republicans of Texas fundraiser, also in Austin.

Dan Bartlett, a former top aide to Gov. and then President George W. Bush, will return to Texas with a job at Austin-based Public Strategies Inc.

He's not the only Bushie headed for Texas. Karen Hughes is quitting her post as head of public diplomacy at the State Department. She was one of Bush's top three advisors when he was first elected, then left the administration to spend time with her family. After a few years, she took the current post.

Gov. Rick Perry named Bryan Shaw — an associate professor at Texas A&M University — to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Shaw is an agricultural engineer and has focused on air pollution and related subjects there.

The governor named A.W. "Whit" Riter III of Tyler the vice chairman of the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board. He's president of Riter Management Co. and of a family foundation named for his father. And he's been on the THECB since 2004.

Wendy Gramm is the new chairman of the Texas Public Policy Foundation. She held that position from 1999 to 2004; Gramm succeeds Houston businessman William McMinn.

After 25 years with the comptroller's office, Elizabeth Blount has retired and plans to open a consulting and lobbying shop. She's part of a small circle of state employees who really know what's in the state budget, after following the doings of legislative budgeteers for years.

Kenneth Besserman is leaving the staff of Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, after nine years there. He's saving the news of where he's going next, but says he's been talking to people about several possibilities.

Deaths: Olan Brewer, political prognosticator and advisor to candidates, trade associations and others who followed Texas House and Senate races over the last 50 years. He was 77, and remained in the political game until the end.