The Midday Brief: October 21, 2011

Your afternoon reading:

 "In a new website, in a controversial ad that was launched and then quickly pulled, and in the now-infamous touching episode during Tuesday’s debate, Republican presidential front-runner Mitt Romney is handling rival Rick Perry as if the Texas governor’s poll numbers were not at a paltry single digit. He is, in short, treating Perry more and more like Perry has Herman Cain’s numbers." — Romney Going for Quick Kill of Perry, National Journal

 “They were going to do it even earlier, he reports, but didn't because it would have harmed the candidate. It certainly isn't going to help her now — but they may have felt the hour was growing too late for things to change for her.” — Michele Bachmann paid New Hampshire staffers quit en masse, Politico

“Presidential hopeful Rep. Ron Paul lambasts Republican front-runners and President Barack Obama in a slick TV ad that trumpets his limited-government, anti-debt stance and his new economic plan — and plans a $2 million TV buy over the next two weeks in states with early nominating contests.” — Ron Paul Plans $2 Million Ad Buy in Early-Voting States, Wall Street Journal

“Former Dallas Mayor Tom Leppert is up with the first television ad of the Texas Senate race, seeking to increase his low name recognition around the state and paint himself as a pragmatic businessman as well as flick his opponents for their career backgrounds.” — Leppert puts up first ad in Texas Senate race: 'Creating jobs is my job,' The Hill

“Houston-area employers created 12,500 new jobs last month, mostly because of a typical end-of-summer surge in public school jobs, the Texas Workforce Commission reported Friday.” — Annual school surge boosts September employment, Houston Chronicle

New in the Texas Tribune:

“The French photographer on why he documented the construction of the border wall between the U.S. and Mexico, and what he learned as he trekked through four states photographing the multi-billion dollar effort.” — Maurice Sherif: The TT Interview

“Health educators and advocates gathered at the Capitol yesterday to talk about what they call the problem of teen pregnancy in Texas. The state has the third highest teen birth rate in the nation, and the second highest rate of repeat teen pregnancy.” — Tackling Texas' Teen Pregnancy Crisis

“Workers are busy stringing thousands of miles of wires across Texas to aid the wind-power boom, despite lingering controversy — and an estimated cost of $6.8 billion. West Texas businesses, for their part, have found a niche feeding and housing the workers, who must put up with rattlesnakes and bad weather.” — Despite Lingering Concerns, Wind Power Transmission Lines Go Up