Wendy Davis Is One Step Closer To Turning Texas Purple

[DonViejo]

Sally Kohn

A new poll shows Wendy Davis within single digits of her Republican opponent—one more sign that Texas’s voters are no longer reliably red.

Let’s start by stating the obvious: It is hard for a Democrat to win statewide office in Texas today. Recently, Rep. Joaquin Castro, a Democrat from San Antonio, pointed out that Texas has gone longer than any other state in the union without electing a Democrat to high office. Which makes Wendy Davis’ ascent in the Texas governor’s race all the more impressive.

This week, a new poll showed Sen. Davis within just seven points of her Republican opponent, Attorney General Greg Abbott. The poll shows that 42 percent of Texas voters back Davis, compared to 49 percent for Abbott. Now, put in the context of the 2002 Texas gubernatorial election—in which Republican Rick Perry won by almost 18 points over his leading Democratic rival—and the seven percent gap between Davis and Abbott is impressive. In the context of previous polls that showed Abbott widening his lead over Davis, this new poll is even more stunning. Wendy Davis has a serious shot at becoming the next governor of Texas.

And it’s still early… Davis made news this week challenging Abbott’s lack of support for equal pay laws for women in Texas (see video, below - Don). In the fiscally conservative Lone Star State, the Davis campaign has pointed out that Abbott took a 62 percent raise at the expense of taxpayers while failing to support basic access to equal pay protections for women in the state. Smart contrasts like these will catapult Davis even higher in voter support, especially given that women voters statewide are still more likely to support Abbott than Davis (46 percent to 42 percent).

That women, who historically lean Democratic, are tipping toward Abbott is also a warning sign to Davis. After all, Davis shot to widespread notoriety for her 11-hour filibuster of legislation that would severely restrict access to abortion services in the state. On abortion rights, Texas voters side with Davis—according to June 2013 polling, 79 percent of voters believe that abortion should be legal and available under certain circumstances. And among independent voters, there’s a 19-point gap between men and women—41 percent of independent women think abortion should be legal and available, compared with 22 percent of men.

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http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/03/18/wendy-davis-is-one-step-closer-to-turning-texas-purple.html

[lostincalifornia]

1. 7% is still a lot. It is hard for me to fathom how any women would vote for abbott in Texas.

[hamsterjill]

3. Likewise. From a Texas woman.

How ANY female in this state can walk into a voting booth and voluntarily cast a ballot for that woman-hater Abbott is beyond me. The facts speak for themselves, and the whole Rick Perry entourage is anti-woman.

But I hear women everyday down here still calling Wendy "Abortion Barbie" and saying they won't vote for her. It astounds me that these women won't/can't simply look at the facts, and vote accordingly.

[davidpdx]

6. Me too

The guy is a pig. Texas would again be on the losing end if they elect Abbott.

[juajen]

2. Gotta keep them women in their place. Shakiin' my head.

[mgcgulfcoast]

4. im confident we win this one.

[Rstrstx]

5. I think the Lt Gov race will be more revealing as to how strong the Rs still are in TX

Davis vs Abbott strikes me as kind of old school, candidates that are kind of, well, 10 years ago (namely Abbott). Don't get me wrong, I love Davis but think she is a special case, if she were more experienced as a TX politician (=cutthroat) I think this race would be dynamite. Abbott is clumsy and not the brightest but he doesn't scare people the way someone like a Cruz does.

For me Van de Putte vs Wingnut is the race to watch, mainly to see: A) if Leticia will finally be The One to galvanize the slumbering Latino vote (might be tricky in an off-year) and 2) to see how far right an extreme right candidate can push around a right-wing voting state without snapping it. Wish we had some good polling on this race, am guessing we will after Dewhurst goes down in the runoff. Leticia has been around in TX politics long enough to know how to play the game, I expect her team to be pretty aggressive. If they can take down a teabagger in an off year then there IS hope for a purple Texas sooner rather than later.

[DFW]

7. The Republicans think they own Texas, tax, title and license

Otherwise, they wouldn't be comfortable nominating a total whack job like Abbott.

Hopefully, like in Virginia, they will have gone too far, and we can put Wendy in the Statehouse.

[tim_whatley]

8. I live in Tejas....

She's gonna get smoked. We can try and pretend otherwise, but it's the truth. She will lose and lose badly.

[hrmjustin]

9. And you signed up to give us this message?

[arcane1]

12. I guess that means any GOTV efforts will be a waste of time, right?

That's the logical conclusion to the newbie's post.

[hrmjustin]

13. Yes that is what I got from it.

[CreekDog]

17. smooth

[tim_whatley]

20. whatley

You're a raging anti-dentite!

[CreekDog]

23. you lurked all these years and decided to join just to tell everyone that Wendy Davis is gonna lose?

[tim_whatley]

10. sorry...

long time lurker!

never before felt the need to add but as a texan just thought i would point out the obvious as i am here and know how this works in tejas politics. she will lose and it won't be close. we can pretend otherwise b/c it makes us feel better but it's not reality.

[hrmjustin]

11. Well we like to be a bit more positive on these races here.

Welcome to du.

[Avalux]

14. Why are you spelling Texas "tejas"?

And why, as a long time lurker, were you motivated to post something so negative as your introduction to the rest of us?

[TBF]

24. There's nothing wrong with "Tejas" -

it's the indigenous spelling.

Attempts to depress the vote, however, may be an issue.

[tim_whatley]

15. why tejas?

tejas was the native american word for texas. we like to use it down here sometimes.

as for why i posted, i don't really know, i thought some would like to read my perspective since i am a texan.

[TBF]

16. Nothing wrong with Tejas -

I use it myself.

Y'all have a weak candidate in Greg however. I know demographics say we have a few more years but I wouldn't get too confident.

[tim_whatley]

21. tejas

Growing up we all learned that tejas meant "friend" or "friendly", so we embraced it.

I think both Gov. candidates are weak, but it's a weak position, the Lt. Gov in Texas holds most of the power. Just look at how long that buffoon Perry held the office.

I'm not so sure I buy into the demo arguement, hispanic in Texas doesn't necessarily mean blue. Remember that W carried the hispanic vote to a large extent. I live in the shadows of downtown Houston, it's solid blue, as are most urban areas. But that's never going to be enough to carry the state, you have to get the burbs to flip and I just don't see it happening. Texans are just more conservative, including hispanic texans, than most of the rest of the country. The main thing pushing them left is the right's crazy immigration stance, which has gotten worse over the last 10 years (remember when W pushed for immigration reform?). If the Rs ever get a moderate or even someone who supports immigration (like Rubio) then texas hispanics are likely to support them as their social positions more allign with the Rs vs. Ds.

[TBF]

22. lol -

we're gonna flip Fort Bend first and then Brazoria. Stay tuned.

And I know all about George P. - he's no competition for Julian Castro.

[CreekDog]

18. i thought you'd call yourself a "Tejan"

[Doctor_J]

19. no longer reliably red????

[TBF]

25. Turning Tejas Blue (dial up warning) -

[tim_whatley]

26. Will be fun to watch it play out...

Could happen, I very much doubt it but we will see!

[Arkana]

27. If Davis can cause the Republicans to spend money in Texas

that would have otherwise gone to other gubernatorial races, she's already accomplished something.

She's in a unique position. Her chances of winning are remote to zero, so she (in essence) cannot possibly lose. She can use this election as an opportunity to give Democrats a rallying point, and she can be as vocal about women's rights as she wants. Her being the spiritual heir to Ann Richards' legacy in Texas could lead to great things down the road for her.

[tim_whatley]

29. I understand your reasoning, and your logic is sound...

But different places have different logic. You'd be surprised at how poorly the "women's rights" argument resonates in Texas, and I am including women in this group. It's not a winning issue in Texas, many many many voting women oppose a women's right to choose, and even if they don't they oppose a women's right to choose the oppose abortion, in general. It's not a winning issue here.

Immigration, on the other hand.... that's why Dems need to get traction here b/c sooner or later the Rs are going to figure their dead end position on immigration reform and begin to change their tune. You can already see the beginnings of it with moderate Rs in Washington, including those in leadership.

[Gothmog]

28. Greg Abbot is not running a smart campaign

Wendy is being helped by the mistakes that Greg keeps making. Greg is not a great speaker and is not in the same league as Goodhair in stirring up the base. Wendy is being helped by Greg's mistakes