|
|
"A comprehensive, collaborative elections resource."
|
Senate race may challenge Texas' Republican slant
|
|---|
| Parent(s) |
Race
|
| Contributor | DFWDem |
| Last Edited | DFWDem Jan 03, 2008 10:10am |
| Logged |
0
|
| Category | General |
| Media | Newspaper - Dallas Morning News |
| News Date | Thursday, January 3, 2008 04:00:00 PM UTC0:0 |
| Description | By WAYNE SLATER / The Dallas Morning News
wslater@dallasnews.com
AUSTIN – On paper, it looks like Mission Impossible for Democrats: oust an incumbent Republican senator and loyal ally of George W. Bush in the president's home state.
The presidential race might be the marquee event in 2008, but the contest between Sen. John Cornyn and likely Democratic challenger Rick Noriega will test the state of Texas politics in the post-Bush era.
Has the Republican ascension topped out in red-state Texas? Can Hispanic voters turn out in big numbers – and to what end? Will a national theme of political change resonate in the Lone Star State? As the field of candidates took its final shape with Wednesday's deadline for candidates to get on the parties' primary ballots, political consultants debated the state's direction and how it will affect the Senate race.
"There's no question that in 2008, the general public and independent voters will be looking for a change in direction," said Democrat Ed Martin. "And I think that's true in Texas, too."
The Senate race comes against the larger backdrop of shifting voter behavior in Texas.
The last time a Democrat won statewide office in Texas was 1994. But in 2006, after a decade of political decline, Texas Democrats picked up six seats in the Texas House and the congressional district once held by former Republican Majority Leader Tom DeLay. Last month, a Fort Worth Democrat further narrowed the GOP margin in the Texas House by winning a surprise victory in a special election. |
| Share |
|
|
2¢
|
|
| Article | Read Full Article |
|
| Date |
Category |
Headline |
Article |
Contributor |
|
|
