Was Farouk Shami, in fact, “on fire”? The Democratic gubernatorial candidate burned through campaign cash, spending $135 for every vote he received in Tuesday’s primary on the way to getting trounced by Bill White — more than any other candidate on the ballot, and by far the most of any losing candidate. By contrast, Democratic land commissioner hopeful Bill Burton spent only 2 cents per vote in a narrow loss to Hector Uribe, who spent only 7 cents per vote himself. All told, candidates spent, on average, about $14 per vote. Explore each campaign’s bang for the buck in our latest data application.
Data App: How Much Votes Cost
Posted in
Health care
A Medicaid Mess
Texas’ senior care industry — still reeling from federal Medicare cuts — may face another financial blow, as the state considers reducing Medicaid provider rates to balance the budget in the face of a $10 billion-plus shortfall.
Posted inState Government
A Conversation with Mike Baselice and Matthew Dowd
For the fourth event in our TribLive series, I interviewed Rick Perry’s pollster and George W. Bush’s former strategist about the results on primary night: why the governor avoided a runoff, what KBH could have done differently, whether the Tea Party is really a force to be reckoned with, and how Bill White will be caricatured on the road to November.
Posted inState Government
2010: Bill White’s No Truther
There’s one sure-fire lesson to be taken from the recently ended primary battle in Texas. When it comes to the position of governor, 9/11 “Truthers” need not apply.
Posted inState Government
2010: Rasmussen: Perry 49%, White 43%
Rick Perry leads Bill White by six percentage points in the first poll released after Tuesday’s primary.
Posted inState Government
2010: Cook Calls Guv Race a Toss-Up
The Cook Political Report calls Bill White the strongest Democratic candidate since Ann Richards — possibly strong enough to oust Rick Perry.
Posted in
Demographics
TribBlog: DPS to Spring Breakers: Ten Cuidado
Texas Department of Public Safety Director Steve McCraw issued a warning today to spring breakers planning to travel to Mexican border cities like Juarez or Nuevo Laredo: Don’t.
Posted in
Economy
TribBlog: Texas Unemployment Rises
More than 1 million Texans were unemployed in January, according to new numbers from the Texas Workforce Commission. Unemployment in the state hit 8.6 percent in January, up from 8 percent the month before and 6.8 percent in January 2009. The comparable national rate was 10.6 percent.
