The Evening Brief: March 7, 2012

Culled:

• Ron Paul aides ponder ‘frustrating’ race (Politico): "Ron Paul’s top strategists are confused and frustrated that the wild enthusiasm they see at their campaign rallies and events is not translating into votes. Thousands turned out to see the Texas congressman at events in Alaska, Idaho and North Dakota in the days before Super Tuesday. Paul said publicly and believed privately that he could win all three states outright. When the votes were counted, though, he finished third in Alaska and Idaho and second in North Dakota. … 'It’s very frustrating,' said Jesse Benton, Paul’s national campaign chairman. 'It certainly wasn’t for lack of trying.'"

• Ron Paul Not a Hit With Youth Voters on Super Tuesday (U.S. News & World Report): "Before Super Tuesday, Ron Paul was attracting more young voters than any of his competitors. He won the youth vote in Iowa, New Hampshire, South Carolina. Nevada and even Mitt Romney's home state of Michigan. A study released Wednesday shows in five Super Tuesday states, Ron Paul attracted no more of the youth support than Rick Santorum or Mitt Romney."

• Ron Paul to begin Hawaii ad campaign (USA Today): "Ron Paul will begin advertising tomorrow in Hawaii with a spot that promotes his plan to cut $1 trillion from the federal budget. The Hawaii caucuses are next Tuesday, March 13, the same day as primaries in Mississippi and Alabama. The Texas congressman's campaign says the commercial will air on cable TV and select broadcast outlets in the Aloha State."

• Democrat drops out of congressional race in CD 10 (Austin American-Statesman): "Dan Grant, an Austin Democrat, won’t try to oust U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Austin, in Congressional District 10. Grant said today that the boundaries of the district, which were redrawn last month by a San Antonio federal court as part of the ongoing redistricting saga, will make victory for a Democrat unlikely."

New in The Texas Tribune:

• Campaign Roundup: The Week's Political News: "With state Rep. J.M. Lozano of Kingsville switching to the Republican Party, former Rep. Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles, D-Alice, has announced for the race for House District 43. Former Rep. Joe Moody, D-El Paso, says he will move and challenge Republican Dee Margo in House District 78. That's a rematch of the 2010 race that Margo won."

• Kent Hance: The TT Interview: "The chancellor of the Texas Tech University system on the tier-one race, why the state should invest in higher education and former head football coach Mike Leach."