Vince Leibowitz endorses...

[PDittie]

For those who may still be unfamiliar with Vince, his blog, Capitol Annex, is as good as it gets for clear-eyed Texas political analysis. Vince was a newspaper reporter in a previous life; he also blogs with the gang at Burnt Orange and also recently joined Eddie Rodriguez at The Red State (who's a nearly-brand-new DUer). Following are a few of his endorsements for the March primary:

Governor of Texas: Chris Bell. This is an endorsement that I feel is of particular importance. Both major candidates in this race, Chris Bell and Bob Gammage, have excellent records of service to the people of Texas. Both are reformers, and both are fine people. However, I believe the race for Texas governor is about the future — not the past. While I believe Bob Gammage would make a fine governor, I believe Chris Bell would make a better one. Neither of the attacks each candidate's records have impressed me. Every Congressman has votes they aren’t proud of and every Congressman must vote their constituents once in a while even though it may be against what they believe in personally. I have no doubt that both Bell and Gammage are pro-choice, pro-education and pro-most everything else Democrats stand for. But what sets Chris Bell apart is that, in my view, he’s a leader for a new generation of Texans. He’s a leader who’s fought the fight against Republicans in recent years as a public official. Chris Bell is the real deal. He’s not Rick Perry lite or an unprogressive Democrat. He knows what is wrong with Texas, and has a plan for how to fix it. I support Chris Bell for Governor.

Lieutenant Governor of Texas: Maria Luisa Alvarado. I came dangerously close to making no endorsement in this race whatsoever. Before telling you why I support Alvarado, let me tell you why I almost made no endorsement in this race. First of all, though I have information about both candidates, I found it shocking that, given the importance of the web to campaigns today, Ben Grant didn’t have any web presence whatsoever until recently. Second, with regard to Judge Grant, it seemed as though his late entry into the race had more to do with helping other candidates win than with winning the race himself. Although his more recent comments are a departure from that, he does not seem to be as viable a candidate as I initially thought he was. Yes, he has mounds of experience, and as a member of the Dirty 30, he’s a bona fide hero to millions of Texans, including me, but that doesn’t mean he’s a good candidate. With regard to Ms. Alvarado, I have extensive concerns about her underfunded effort, although she was working and had a website up months before filing. I decided to support Ms. Alvarado because I believe she has a reason for running more than just to support down-ballot candidates. From her website:

It is due to her analyses and critical thinking about current issues affecting Texans and the lack of appropriate response by state leaders that has challenged her to run for elected office.

Granted, Ms. Alvarado has no experience as an elected official. But neither did David Dewhurst before he became Land Commissioner. However, I do believe Ms. Alvarado has a desire within her heart to work for change in Texas. This does not mean I don’t have concerns about her candidacy which I’d like resolved: I don’t know her position on a woman’s right to choose, an important thing for the presiding officer of the Texas Senate. However, I will vote for Alvarado in the Primary.

Attorney General of Texas. David Van Os. Although this is an unopposed race, I would feel remiss in not showing my strong support for David Van Os. Over decades of work, David has demonstrated that he has the qualities to be the People’s Lawyer.

Agriculture Commissioner. Koecadee Melton, Jr. This too was a difficult race to decide upon. Hank Gilbert has experience as an elected official with the Walnut Springs WSC Board, while Mr. Melton has experience in the TxDoAg. I support Mr. Melton (http://www.koecadeemelton.com/">website) because I believe that his knowledge of the agency (having worked for Jim Hightower) will enable him to better run the agency and point out what the Republican Ag Commissioner, Susan Combs, screwed up and what her pre-ordained successor, Todd Staples (R-Palestine) will likely continue to screw up.

U. S. Representative, District 1. Duane Shaw. First, some concerns: Neither candidate has any information at their respective websites on whether or not they are pro-choice, and Roger Owen has little information about his positions at all on his site and both candidates seem to be doing a little pandering to the hyper-religious climate in this district. That said, I believe Mr. Shaw is the better candidate. In contrast to his opponent, he appears to have well-articulated positions on a number of issues including the war in Iraq and education. Furthermore, we believe his professional experience will be beneficial to the citizens of the First District.

U. S. Representative, District 7. David Murff. This district pits two very desirable candidates against each other. Former school teacher Jim Henley and David Murff would both make fine Congressmen. However, Mr. Murff stands out to me. As a practicing attorney with involvement in the securities business, I believe that the variety of knowledge and experience (including military service) Murff brings to the table will be an asset to voters. Without reservation, I endorse David Murff.

U.S. Representative, District 10. Ted Ankrum. Though I admire the feisty outspokenness of 95-year-old DeLay hater Sid Smith, and the desire to have a “Sam Rayburn Democrat” serving the people like Paul Foreman, I believe Ted Ankrum has the experience and leadership ability to best serve the people of CD 10.

U. S. Representative, District 28. Ciro Rodriguez. I’ve previously endorsed Mr. Rodriguez in this race, so I won’t elaborate on it much except to say that the people of his district need his experience in Congress, and the people of Texas need a real Democrat who will stand up for the people of Texas. That Cuellar is endorsed by Club for Growth and other groups is very troubling, along with his record of failing to vote in the best interests of his district.

State Senate, District 19. Carlos Uresti. Having previously made my endorsement in this race, I’ll leave you with this: Carlos Uresti is a leader for the people of Texas who will stand up for what is best for his district. He won’t lock the Democratic Party in his trunk.

[Baby Snooks]

1. Thanks, but no thanks

"Granted, Ms. Alvarado has no experience as an elected official. But neither did David Dewhurst before he became Land Commissioner."

Ms. Alvarado is not running for Land Commissioner. She is running for one of the most powerful positions in state government. With no experience whatsoever as an elected official. Certainly not one with any legislative experience or even exposure which I believe, and many others believe, is pretty much a requirement for the position of lieutenant governor. As you pointed out when you pointed out that David Dewhurst had been Land Commissioner David Dewhurst and ran as such when he ran for lieutenant governor.

"I found it shocking that, given the importance of the web to campaigns today, Ben Grant didn’t have any web presence whatsoever until recently."

So in other words, if you're not on the web, you're not a serious candidate?

"Second, with regard to Judge Grant, it seemed as though his late entry into the race had more to do with helping other candidates win than with winning the race himself."

Any candidate in particular? Gammage perhaps? Who you absolutely don't want to endorse even indirectly? Which you know you would if you endorsed Grant because of a growing number of people who are looking at the advantage of a Gammage-Grant team as opposed to a Bell-Dewhurst team?

It is folly to believe that a candidate with absolutely no experience whatsoever in public office could win an election to a powerful legislative position. She would have had a better chance at running for governor. But her brother chose to run for governor instead. And bounced himself out of the race when his check bounced. Maybe she should have covered his check for him? If she can't tend to her own family's financial difficulties, how is she going to tend to ours?

"However, I believe the race for Texas governor is about the future — not the past."

Bell is the future? Having read his "10 Percent Solution" before he "deleted" it, along with quite a few people across the state of Texas who also read it and are still reading it despite his having "deleted" it, this "future" he would open the door to appears to be the "past" the Republicans want to take us back to.

We have all been asked to take a look at Gammage's voting record in Congress 30 years ago - how about taking a look at Bell's voting record in Congress 3 years ago?

It does not reflect a Democrat voting for a Democratic agenda. It reflects a Democrat voting for a Republican agenda. Which sums up which agenda he would serve as governor. Thanks, but no thanks.

[crispini]

2. Just with regards to one point:

"If you're not on the web, you're not a serious candidate." -- YES.

If most of our local judicial candidates can manage to get up a teeny little four or five page website then I would expect the same of our statewide candidates. I sent out a flyer to my precinct to tell the dems where to go for more information and I was unable to find websites for MANY of the statewide candidates. I found this embarrassing and sad. How on earth are Democratic voters -- not activists, VOTERS -- supposed to find more out about their candidates if they aren't on the web? Activists who want to spend a lot of time going to rallies and reading BOR can certainly find out stuff, but voters are going to spend 30 minutes deciding how to vote, tops, and if candidates don't have websites for them to look at, how are they supposed to know what to do?

[Baby Snooks]

3. Not everyone's on the internet

You assume everyone is on the internet. Everyone is not. That's why "meet-and-greets" are still very much a part of campaigning.

And that's where the polls may be proven wrong finally. The polls say Bell. But everyone who's been in the same room with Bell and Gammage say Gammage. He stirs the embers of what once was a very active and vibrant party and is bringing it back to life. Bell just stands there and delivers one-liners. Very old one-liners at this point. And puts everyone back on life-support.

[crispini]

4. No, I don't assume everyone's on the internet.

But it certainly helps to make politics more open. It is one of many ways that a campaign can reach out to voters. Some others are direct mail, meet and greets, and so on. The difference is that it takes 15 bucks and about four hours of work to put up a very basic website. I've done it myself. So if a campaign doesn't bother to do this basic piece of outreach then I do think less of them.

And as far as meet and greets go, well, they're great, but by and large only the party faithful turn out for them, because they're the only ones who know about them. That's not going to help us in the long term with the mass of voters. People are busy and have a hard time getting out to events. For example, the ONLY Gammage event that I know of in North Texas so far was in the mid-cities on a date that I could not attend.

So, yes, if you're not on the internet I'm going to think that you don't have a serious campaign. Not serious about reaching out beyond the party faithful.

[Lisa0825]

6. Not everyone.

"But everyone who's been in the same room with Bell and Gammage say Gammage"

:eyes:

[efhmc]

8. Agreed, serious candidates have websites.

[PDittie]

5. Vince has a post about Pukes in contested primaries

Emphasis and minor corrections mine:

CD-03: ... database analyst Bob Johnson (R-Plano) will be running a long-shot race to oust Rep. Sam Johnson (R-Dallas). Sam Johnson, a seven-term Congressman, hasn’t won his district with less than seventy-percent of the vote since 1991. The district includes most of Collin County and part of Dallas County.

And this isn’t the challenger’s first congressional race. In 2004, Bob Johnson ran as a Libertarian against Jim Davis in Florida’s 11th Congressional District. Nevertheless, his chances of victory against the entrenched incumbent are slim.

The winner of the March 7 Primary will face Democrat Dan Dodd in November.

CD-14: Frank Sinatra Jr.’s ex-wife will attempt to unseat a five-term incumbent and former Libertarian Party candidate for president in what promises to be an interesting but likely uncompetitive primary in CD 14.

International defense attorney Cynthia Sinatra (R-Wharton) will face incumbent Rep. Ron Paul (R-Surfside) in their party’s primary.

Paul was first elected to represent the district in 1976, defeating current Democratic candidate for Texas Governor Bob Gammage. After serving four terms, he ran for U.S. Senate but lost to Phil Gramm in 1984. He was the Libertarian Party’s candidate for president in 1988. He reclaimed his seat following former Rep. Greg Laughlin’s switch from the Democratic to the Republican Party in 1995.

The winner of this primary will face Democrat Shane Sklar in the November general election.

CD-17: The second-most-heated GOP primary battle for Congress in Texas is being waged in the 17th Congressional District where two Republicans are vying for the chance to take on eight-term Congressman Chet Edwards (D-Waco) in the home congressional district of President Bush.

Tucker Anderson (R-Calvert), an attorney, veteran, and former legislative director to U.S. Rep. Pete Sessions (R-Dallas), will square off against Van Taylor (R-West), an Iraq war vet and businessman on March 7.

Two years ago, Edwards narrowly staved off a challenge from former state Rep. Arlene Wohlgemuth (R-Burleson).

CD-22: By far the most heated congressional GOP primary in Texas is in the district of indicted former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Sugar Land).

DeLay, who ran nine percentage points behind Bush in the district in 2004 against Democrat Richard Morrison, faces challenges from Pat Baig, Tom Campbell and Mike Fjetland. Fjetland has run against DeLay both in previous GOP primaries and as an independent in the November general election.

All three candidates are campaigning heavily on ethics issues, given that DeLay is currently under indictment for money laundering in Travis County in connection with alleged illegal political contributions and activities during the 2002 election cycle.

The winner of the primary faces off with Democrat Nick Lampson in November.

http://capitolannex.com/2006/02/21/a-look-at-contested-gop-congressional-primaries-part-2-of-4/

[PDittie]

7. And some about the Dems running for Congress:

CD-01: Two Democrats are vying for their party’s nomination to take on freshman Congressman Louie Gohmert (R-Tyler) in the November Election.

Pool builder Roger L. Owen (D-Hallsville) and attorney Duane Shaw (D-Lufkin) are facing each other in the Democratic primary.

Shaw holds a degree in history and French from Stephen F. Austin State University and a law degree from St. Mary’s University. He is a solo practitioner in Lufkin. Owen owns and operates Admiral Inground Pools and touts himself as a 25-year political activist and graduate of the Longview Citizen Police Academy.

Judging by both candidates’ websites, they are attempting to capitalize on the strong Christian vote in the area. ...

Gohmert, a former texas district court judge in Smith County and intermediate appellate court judge for the 12th District Court of Appeals, defeated former U.S. Congressman Max Sandlin in 2004 following redistricting. This was following a tough primary involving Gohmert, attorney John Graves (R-Longview), former State Rep. Wayne Christian (R-Center) who is presently involved in another race for State Rep., and Lyle Thorstenson (R-Center). Following a runoff, Gohmert bested Graves and went on to defeat Sandlin outspending the incumbent Democrat $1.8 to $6.9 million.

The Democrat who wins will have a tough time against Gohmert in November. The Cook PVI for the district is R+17. While Max Sandlin took the old CD-01 with a comfortable 56/44 percent lead in 2002, he was defeated by Gohmert 61/38% in 2004, though he remained seven percentage points above John Kerry districtwide due to in part to incumbency, name recognition and quality of representation while in office.

The district: Upshur, Marion, Gregg, Harrison, Smith, Rusk, Panola, Shelby, Nacgdoches, San Augustine, Angelina, Sabine and part of Cass Counties. Stretches from the Louisiana border on the east to Van Zandt County on the west for 8,916 square miles (roughly the size of New Jersey).

CD-07: Two Democrats are vying to take on John Culberson (R-Houston) in a district covering West Houston and western Harris County.

Jim Henley (D-Houston) and David Murff (D-Friendswood) will attempt to unseat a three-term congressman who has had a Democratic opponent in only one of the last two election cycles. In that election (2004), Culberson maintained a 64/33 percent lead over his Democratic opponent. The Cook PVI for the District is R+16.

Since the 7th was created in 1966, it has had only three Representatives -- all Republicans: former President George H. W. Bush, Bill Archer and Culberson.

Henley is a middle school debate and history teacher and former Baptist minister. Murff is an attorney in private practice and broker with Nelson Reid.

CD-10:Four Democrats are battling for the chance to take on freshman Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Dallas) in CD-10 in a Houston-to-Austin district. Prior to redistricting in 2003, Lloyd Doggett represented the Austin-based 10th.

Ted Ankrum (D-Cypress), 63, a retired Navy captain who has worked for the National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency; Pat Mynatt (D-Spring), 68, a retired emergency room nurse; Paul Foreman (D-Austin), a Vietnam vet and writer; and Sid Smith (D-Austin), a retired Realtor, will face each other on March 7.

McCaul bested a field of eight GOP primary candidates and a runoff to get the nod in the district in 2004. No Democrat filed for the post though Austin Democrat Lorenzo Sadun did wage a write-in campaign garnering six percent of the vote to McCaul’s 79% and 15% for the Libertarian candidate.

McCaul outpaced Bush in the district 76/62 percent.

The district: Lee, Washington, Austin, Waller and parts of Travis, Bastrop and Harris Counties; 3,846 square miles.

CD 28: ... by far the most heated of congressional races, with incumbent Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-Laredo) facing former U. S. Congressman Ciro Rodriguez (D-San Antonio) and frequent candidate and teacher Victor Morales (D-Crandall), who is actually running from outside the district.

Cuellar won a hotly contested primary in 2004 by less than 100 votes, and went on to defeat his GOP opponent 59/39 percent in a district that Bush carried by a mere 3 percentage points in 2004 which otherwise leans very Democratc in spite of its Cook PVI of D+1.

The race has made news recently with Rodriguez raising in excess of $100,000 through the Internet following the publicity surrounding a photo of Cuellar being embraced by President Bush during last month’s State of the Union Address. Most agree Morales, a two-time candidate for U.S. Senate, is a non-entity in the district, though the 1-3 percentage points he could garner will likely have a serious effect on the outcome of the race.

This will be a winner-take-all primary, as no Republican is seeking the seat.

The district: Includes all of Atascosa, Frio, Guadalupe, LaSalle, McMullen, Wilson and Zapata Counties and parts of Bexar, Comal, Hays, and Webb counties. 10,246 square miles (roughly the size of Massachusetts).

Note: The Democratic Party of Texas lists CD-19 as a contested primary race, but Jorge Artalejo was deemed ineligible to run against five-term Rep. Sylvestre Reyes after the check for his filing fee bounced.

http://capitolannex.com/2006/02/20/contested-primary-races-part-1-of-4-democratic-congressional-primaries/