The Evening Brief: Oct. 2, 2012

New in The Texas Tribune:

•   Lyceum Poll: Romney, Cruz Hold Safe Leads in Texas: "Republican Mitt Romney has a commanding lead over Democrat Barack Obama in the presidential race in Texas, with 58 percent to the incumbent’s 39 percent, according to a new Texas Lyceum Poll. The same survey has Republican Ted Cruz leading Democrat Paul Sadler 50 percent to 24 percent in the race for U.S. Senate from Texas. Those two are among the candidates vying to replace Kay Bailey Hutchison, who didn’t seek another term. About a quarter of the voters were undecided in that race. The pollsters also asked Texans whether Gov. Rick Perry should seek another term in that office in 2014. Most — 54 percent — chose 'wait and see,' while 30 percent were against another term and 18 percent said they were for it."

•   Shelton Ad Accuses Davis of Peddling Influence: "In a Senate District 10 ad spot, Republican Mark Shelton accuses incumbent Democrat Wendy Davis of supporting higher taxes, taking campaign contributions from personal injury lawyers and 'peddling her influence as a state senator.'"

•   Janek's Scrutiny of U.S. Census Bureau Uninsured Statistics Draws Critics: "At The Texas Tribune Festival, Health and Human Services Commissioner Kyle Janek made a startling suggestion: that the Census Bureau’s projection that a quarter of Texans are uninsured is inflated."

•   Select Texas Districts Aim to Pilot Testing Reforms: "Thanks to a new law, a consortium of school districts could offer a new way forward as policymakers address the increasingly heated opposition to the state's high-stakes standardized test-based accountability system."

•   For Richards, Spats With Bullock Were Constant: Gov. Ann Richards surrendered much of her freedom and privacy after she took office, Jan Reid writes in a new book, Let the People In: The Life and Times of Ann Richards. This excerpt looks at her busy schedule and her difficult working relationship with Lt. Gov. Bob Bullock.

Culled:

•   Key Part of Voter ID Law in Pennsylvania Is Delayed for Election (The New York Times): "A Pennsylvania judge on Tuesday delayed full implementation of a highly contested state law requiring strict photographic identification to vote in next month’s election, saying that the authorities had not done enough to ensure that potential voters had access to the new documents."

•   Villarreal, school advocates urge state leaders to undo cuts (The Dallas Morning News): "A Democratic lawmaker and other public school advocates on Tuesday urged state leaders next session to use 'newly disclosed' billions in revenue that exceeds official state forecasts to start undoing last year’s education cuts."

•   School District Rebuilds After Fraudulent Testing (The Associated Press): "The district was trying to push out hundreds of low-performing sophomores to prevent them from taking accountability tests. The scheme was designed to help El Paso schools raise academic standards, qualify for more federal money and ensure the superintendent got hefty bonuses."