Inside Texas Politics: Dueling Ads Before Labor Day

On this week's edition of WFAA-TV's Inside Texas Politics, I talked with host Jason Whitely and the Fort Worth Star-Telegram's Bud Kennedy about the possible makeup of the state Senate in 2015 — there's a good chance there'll be 18 "movement conservatives" in addition to two perhaps more moderate (but still conservative) senators, with just 11 Democrats. And if Dan Patrick is elected lieutenant governor, it'll be a conservative chamber indeed — even by Texas standards.

We also tallked about the last-ditch effort in the courts to keep some of the remaining abortion clinics in Texas from being shut down under the new laws passed by the state Legislature in 2013; Gov. Rick Perry and Sen. Ted Cruz being given equal time at this week's RedState Gathering in Fort Worth; and Dan Patrick's hiring of a Latino spokesman — which might be a sound political move, but probably isn't a reflection of any anxiety among his political base. 

Also: Jason and Bud talk to Republican and Democratic consultants Matt Mackowiak and Harold Cook about gubernatorial candidates Wendy Davis and Greg Abbott's new, pre-Labor Day ads — Davis came out swinging with a very negative ad, while Abbott's took a positive tone with a spot starring his Hispanic mother-in-law. They also talked to Tea Party activist Katrina Pierson, who had an idea for where to send those Central American kids. Jason talked to U.S. Rep Michael Burgess about his idea to imitate the pre-World War II "lend lease" program and repurpose small U.S. arms and equipment to the Ukraine government.