The Brief: March 5, 2012

The Big Conversation:

Ron Paul has gone 12 states without a win, but that may finally change tomorrow.

That's when 10 states will vote as part of Super Tuesday, in which about one-third of the Republican presidential race's remaining delegates — 419 — will be awarded.

On Sunday, Paul, who has taken to amassing delegates in smaller caucuses states en route to the Republican National Convention, appeared optimistic about his chances, saying that he'd likely collect a majority of the delegates Tuesday and predicting that he could win the three states holding caucuses: Alaska, Idaho and North Dakota.

"Do I believe I could win? Yes," Paul said on Sunday of his chances of winning the party's nomination. "Do I think the chances are slim?," he continued. "Yes, I do."

But even those seemingly Paul-friendly states don't come without challenges. Paul, who placed second behind Mitt Romney in the Washington state caucuses on Saturday, has campaigned in Idaho, but the state's Mormon population — a quarter of its voters — will likely benefit Romney, The Associated Press notes. Romney and Rick Santorum have also made plays for North Dakota. And while no one but Paul has campaigned in Alaska, conservative voters may gravitate toward Santorum of Newt Gingrich, whom Sarah Palin has praised recently.

Paul also faces only Romney in Virginia because the other candidates failed to qualify for the ballot, but Romney is expected to win the state handily.

Culled:

• Vice President Joe Biden will talk cartel violence and drug smuggling with Mexican President Felipe Calderón on Monday in Mexico City, according to the San Antonio Express-News. Biden will also meet with presidential candidates from the country's three top presidential candidates, one of whom will succeed Calderón this year.

• Gun sales are surging in Texas, thanks in part to buyers' growing belief that President Barack Obama will win a second term and push for stricter gun control laws, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports (in a story for which comments have since been disabled). "Look who the Republicans are trying to put against Obama," one gun shop owner told the Star-Telegram, adding, "People are terrified he's going to get re-elected and then he won't care about getting votes next time. He'll just pass whatever legislation he wants."

• State Rep. Solomon Ortiz Jr., D-Corpus Christi, will not seek re-election, the Corpus Christi Caller-Times reported Friday. After newly drawn redistricting maps eliminated Ortiz's District 33, Ortiz would have had to face Rep. Abel Herrero of Robstown for the Democratic nomination in the newly created District 34. Ortiz instead endorsed Herrero for the seat.

“I don’t think he’s very apologetic, I think he’s doing it because people were taking their advertisements off his program." — Ron Paul on Rush Limbaugh's apology to a Georgetown Law student whom Limbaugh called a "slut" for her views on contraception

Must-Read:

• Gay by choice? James runs with opinion, San Antonio Express-News
• Mayor Parker getting political pushback on gay marriage support, Houston Chronicle
• Texas Southern University Works to Lift Graduation Rate Up From Bottom, The Texas Tribune
• George P. Bush Works to Nurture Hispanic Roots Within GOP, The Texas Tribune