Texas Dems Benched for the 2004 Elections? [View All]

[Dover]

Texas won't be in on 2004 election fun

Editorial Board

AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN

Sunday, January 4, 2004

This year, much of the United States will get excited about a presidential election during a time of war, featuring a strong-willed, daring and polarizing president, George W. Bush, against a Democrat yet to be named but sure to be highly critical of the current administration.

But not in Texas.

For all its importance in electing presidents, Texas is now so dependably Republican that it's left on the sidelines through most of the campaign for the November vote. As much as he needs Texas' 34 electoral votes to win re-election, President Bush can -- quite reasonably -- take this state's vote for granted in 2004. No Democratic presidential has won a majority of Texas voters since Jimmy Carter in 1976.

Even the Democratic presidential primary campaign may well prove anticlimactic in Texas. After the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary this month, the Democratic candidates who survive will campaign through other states' primaries in February. By the time Texas holds it March 9 primary, the Democratic nominee may be all but official, or the race narrowed to only two or three candidates.

So, once again, Texas will watch the presidential campaigns from afar. Candidates from both parties will make a few token public appearances in Texas -- a wave to voters during trips whose principal purpose will be to raise campaign contributions for spending in "battleground" states, where voters cannot be taken for granted.

Statewide, this is a light election year, with only seven seats up for election: one on the Texas Railroad Commission and three each on the Texas Supreme Court and the Court of Criminal Appeals. If the past several statewide elections are any guide, winning the GOP primary on March 9 will be tantamount to election in November -- especially this year, when the biggest Republican of all, Bush, will lead the ballot. The Democrats aren't even challenging in several statewide races. The Democrats have fallen, and they still can't get up.

Filing for the March 9 primary ended Friday, with the grand exception of the congressional districts, because of the newly adopted district lines and the subsequent court fight. Congressional primary candidates have another window, Jan. 11-16, to file.

Whatever political fireworks go off in Texas this year are likely to come in some of the new congressional districts, especially where Democratic incumbents find themselves with new constituents and new challengers -- in some cases from their own party....cont'd

http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/auto/epaper/editions/sunday/editorial_f36fa69ca54c40af00f6.html