The Evening Brief: May 16, 2012

New in The Texas Tribune:

• Perry Votes for Romney, Predicts He Will Become President: "Calling his primary campaign bashing of Mitt Romney water under the bridge, Gov. Rick Perry voted for the former Massachusetts governor Wednesday and predicted he would beat President Obama. … Perry was [also] asked if he would endorse the other top Texas leader who has a primary challenge on his hands — Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, R-San Antonio. … 'I don’t endorse people until I get asked, Perry said. Straus spokeswoman Erin Daly released a written statement after Perry spoke, but didn't say whether Straus would ask Perry for his support."

• Club for Growth Boosts Spending on Anti-Dewhurst Ads: "The Club for Growth announced Wednesday that it has spent nearly $2 million in the last week on ads criticizing David Dewhurst in its efforts supporting Ted Cruz in Texas' U.S. Senate race."

• Morton Case is Front, Center in WilCo DA Race: "Michael Morton’s name isn’t on the ballot, but he has become the central figure in the heated campaign to become tough-on-crime Williamson County's next district attorney. Incumbent John Bradley, not one to shy away from political fights, is taking on a challenger who is campaigning on his highest-profile mistake."

Culled:

• Carona’s fundraiser for West raises eyebrows in Dallas (The Dallas Morning News): "In a gesture of campaign bipartisanship, Republican Sen. John Carona of Dallas is hosting a fundraising event for Sen. Royce West, a Democratic colleague. And while Carona said it’s simply an effort to help a fellow Dallas lawmaker who has worked with him on local issues, several experts see politics at work — particularly in Carona’s potential effort to move up to lieutenant governor. Some conservatives see it as evidence he’s not their best pick for the job."

• Annise Parker, Obama criticize Republican version of Violence Against Women Act (Houston Chronicle): "The Obama administration and 60 mayors, including Houston Mayor Annise Parker and Laredo Mayor Raul G. Salinas, have denounced the House version of the Violence Against Women Act reauthorization for failure to include provisions that would better protect and serve native Americans, LGBT couples and undocumented immigrants."