The Midday Brief: March 4, 2010

Your afternoon reading:

• Now it is the Democrats’ turn to take on Perry. Here is my advice to Bill White: DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE RICK PERRY. —Last words about the GOP governor’s race — BurkaBlog

• Of course, the Lone Star State's senior senator has pledged to resign from the Senate. But now that the election is over, why should she do it? — Ten reasons why Kay Bailey Hutchison should remain in the Senate —Texas on the Potomac

• Mr Perry missed an opportunity, too. Not having been tested, he had no occasion to improve. So he will leave the primary season no stronger than he was before, and his next opponent is scrappier than Mrs Hutchison proved to be. —Romping home — The Economist

• The gift will be the second-largest donation made to a Texas college or university and ranks among the top 20 private gifts made to colleges and universities throughout the country, Baylor officials said. The money will benefit medical research in the College of Arts and Sciences and the School of Social Work, among other programs. — Baylor gets anonymous $200 million gift — Austin American-Statesman

• The primary race in House District 93 may go to a recount. Former Arlington City Councilwoman Barbara Nash defeated Bill Burch, a real estate investor, won the race Tuesday night by 112 votes out of 5,354 cast. — Burch mulling recount — Politex

New in The Texas Tribune:

• Unemployment in the state hit 8.6 percent in January, up from 8 percent the month before and 6.8 percent in January 2009. The comparable national rate was 10.6 percent. — TribBlog: Texas Unemployment Rises —The Texas Tribune

• The post-election euphoria that infused Wednesday morning could be short-lived for a handful of candidates who, though victorious, won by margins narrow enough to prompt recount requests from their closest challenger. — Once More, With Feeling— The Texas Tribune