Big stories behind the Texas showdown
UPDATE: Here's another good Texas results page.
Like other hard-core politicos, I'll be closely following the results of tonight's primary in Texas. But before we get too buried in poll-watching and results-tallying, it's good to step back and look at two "big picture" stories coming out of the Lone Star state:
DEMOCRACY FLOURISHES WHEN PEOPLE HAVE CHOICES: Turnout in Texas has already hit record numbers. As the AP reported yesterday:
That backs up what election reform advocates have been saying for years, about the need to make elections more competitive by taking big money out of politics and checking other factors that favor incumbency and lower participation.
THE KATRINA FACTOR: We reported last week on the key role Katrina evacuees will likely play in Texas. Nobody knows the exact numbers, but tens of thousands of Gulf Coast residents remain displaced, and the largest share are in Texas.
The irony: Katrina evacuees may play a decisive role in picking a Presidential candidate, even while the campaigns continue to ignore the Gulf Coast recovery.
Still interested in following the horse race? Here's my suggestion: refresh Burnt Orange Report every five minutes for updates, read The Texas Observer for insightful analysis, and listen to Freddie King, La Mafia, Lyle Lovett and Doug Sahm to get in the mood.
Like other hard-core politicos, I'll be closely following the results of tonight's primary in Texas. But before we get too buried in poll-watching and results-tallying, it's good to step back and look at two "big picture" stories coming out of the Lone Star state:
DEMOCRACY FLOURISHES WHEN PEOPLE HAVE CHOICES: Turnout in Texas has already hit record numbers. As the AP reported yesterday:
The election in Texas is more than half over before primary day. An estimated 60 percent, or 2 million of the 3.3 million total voters, cast their ballots early, Texas Secretary of State Phil Wilson said Monday.Why the huge turnout? More than anything, it's because there's a real race on. Voters realize their ballot counts.
That backs up what election reform advocates have been saying for years, about the need to make elections more competitive by taking big money out of politics and checking other factors that favor incumbency and lower participation.
THE KATRINA FACTOR: We reported last week on the key role Katrina evacuees will likely play in Texas. Nobody knows the exact numbers, but tens of thousands of Gulf Coast residents remain displaced, and the largest share are in Texas.
The irony: Katrina evacuees may play a decisive role in picking a Presidential candidate, even while the campaigns continue to ignore the Gulf Coast recovery.
Still interested in following the horse race? Here's my suggestion: refresh Burnt Orange Report every five minutes for updates, read The Texas Observer for insightful analysis, and listen to Freddie King, La Mafia, Lyle Lovett and Doug Sahm to get in the mood.
Labels: burnt orange report, doug sahm, Election 2008, freddie king, Hurricane Katrina, la mafia, lyle lovett, texas, texas observer, voting rights
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