tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post8878852895792029409..comments2024-03-25T20:06:39.794-05:00Comments on Grits for Breakfast: Is Sharon Keller's influence waning on CCA?Gritsforbreakfasthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-56829696116974078292010-06-19T15:19:10.240-05:002010-06-19T15:19:10.240-05:00Good comments, 10:07. I actually have a bet (dinne...Good comments, 10:07. I actually have a bet (dinner in the winner's town) with Charles Kuffner that Hampton will outpoll Bill White. So I agree with you if he raises money and runs a real campaign he has a shot to beat Keasler, who could be easily painted with Keller's broad brush, their records are so close. If Bill White gets 47% or more, Keith could indeed win, though Keasler has the better hole cards because of the Libertarian spoiler.<br /><br />Honestly I'd love to see some good polling about the CCA race and the public's views on the Keller debacle. I doubt if anybody knows anybody but Keller on the court by name and suspect voters associate all the incumbents with her pretty much automatically, despite the growing divides on the court. OTOH, I assume Keller and other CCA incumbents have seen polling and she appears to think claiming her critics are all anti-death penalty zealots will be enough to let her skate. Who knows? Maybe it will.Gritsforbreakfasthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10152152869466958902noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8597101.post-53856590032637796732010-06-19T10:07:59.036-05:002010-06-19T10:07:59.036-05:00Thanks for bringing attention to the changing dyna...Thanks for bringing attention to the changing dynamics on the court. <br /><br />I disagree that the prospects for electing Democrats will be better in 2012 because of increased interest and turnout caused by 2012 being a presidential year. Unless Obama suddenly gets a lot more popular in Texas, 2012's presidential race is not going to help Democrats in statewide races. However, Keller could lose all on her own in 2012 even if there is a large Republican turnout for whoever is the Republican nominee for president. She always gets fewer votes than other statewide judicial candidates and 2012 will be her first race since having charges brought against her by the SCJC.<br /><br />The off year of 2010 is still a better year for getting a Democrat not running against Keller elected to the CCA. The governor's race is not going to be a blowout and will likely be much closer than 2012's presidential race in Texas. If White can avoid losing 60-40 and makes it closer to 53-47, then Hampton has a chance. Keller's troubles will likely give Hampton a couple of points, even though he is not running against her. The combination of White running a close race and the fallout from Keller could get Hampton close to winning. Getting the other few points he needs to win is up to him and the quality of the campaign he runs this fall, including his ability to raise about $150,000.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com