On the final weekend of the gubernatorial campaign, Gov. Rick Perry was in Midland — exactly where he was on the final weekend of the Republican primary — pushing the same anti-Washington message that has kept him comfortably ahead in the polls for most of 2010. “Make no mistake,” he told the assembled crowd, “this is a national election.” His Democratic challenger, Bill White, was in a leafy Houston neighborhood, knocking on doors, energizing volunteers and insisting that the pundits and promulgators of conventional wisdom are dead wrong. “We have broad support,” White insisted. “We are in a position to win this race.”
Bill White
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State Government
Bill White’s Closing Argument
Video of the Democratic gubernatorial nominee — confident as Nov. 2 approaches — visiting his Austin campaign headquarters.
Posted inState Government
The Most Important Perry
Over the last decade, two Republicans with the last name Perry have dominated the Texas political landscape. One is Rick, the state’s longest-serving governor. The other is Bob (no relation), the state’s largest individual political donor during that time — with no close second. Since 2000, the wealthy Houston home builder has contributed about $28 million to more than 400 candidates and political action committees in Texas, according to an analysis of campaign-finance data by The Texas Tribune. During that time, he’s also contributed at least $38 million more to candidates and groups outside of Texas.
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Politics
Perry Up By 12 in Newspaper Poll
Gov. Rick Perry’s lead over his Democratic challenger, Bill White, is now 12 points, according to the latest poll commissioned by the five big-city newspapers.
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Demographics
2010: Dems: Perry’s Ad Prompts “Disgust”
Texas Democrats today called Gov. Rick Perry’s ad featuring a Houston widow an underhanded attempt to promote Arizona-style immigration laws. Perry’s camp says Democrats are confused.
Posted inState Government
GovTracker: Mapping the Campaign
A month ago, we started tracking the whereabouts of the major-party candidates in the governor’s race — Rick Perry and Bill White — using an interactive map and Twitter feed. Today we launch an update with improved navigation and an embed feature.
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State Government
An Interview with Nathan Gonzales
The political editor of the D.C.-based Rothenberg Political Report talks Texas candidates and elections.
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State Government
Nathan Gonzales: The TT Interview
The political editor of the respected and influential Rothenberg Political Report on how Washington insiders view the Texas governor’s race, who’s at risk in the state’s congressional battles, what redistricting could mean for the major parties and why Republicans are likely to be happy campers one week from today.
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State Government
The Mother’s Milk
The state’s political economy hummed with $43.5 million in contributions to and between candidates and political action committees between Sept. 24 and Oct. 23, according to the most recent reports filed with the Texas Ethics Commission. The biggest contribution: $3 million to Rick Perry’s re-election campaign from the Republican Governors Association.
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Politics
The Polling Center: Finding the Actual Voters
So how to create a likely voter model? Campaign pollsters typically use a combination of past voting history — available off the registered voter list — and current interest and engagement. Those who have voted in the past, as well as those who are jazzed about voting this year, tend to get into the likely electorate.