Texas GOP Senate Runoff

[rbt48]

Well, now Ted Cruz will get to become a "creature of the establishment." 

I suppose I was supporting Dewhurst because he came across as more pragmatic and able to compromise than Cruz.  I guess the plus for Cruz is that he is very young so perhaps he can serve four terms and just be in his 60s (Dewhurst is already 65).  Another plus is that he is sure to win anyway. 

I keep thinking of the tea party losers who have cost the GOP a Senate majority or jeopardized otherwise sure wins:  Miller (AK), O'Donnell (DE), Murdock (IN), and Fischer (NE).  Cruz isn't in this category, so it is less daunting.

[Jbrase]

I keep thinking of the tea party losers who have cost the GOP a Senate majority or jeopardized otherwise sure wins:  Miller (AK), O'Donnell (DE), Murdock (IN), and Fischer (NE).  Cruz isn't in this category, so it is less daunting.

O'Donnell is the only one who fits that category. The GOP still held Alaska, Indiana and Nebraska are still likely GOP

[Mr. Morden]

How "Tea Party" is Cruz?  Is he a true believer like DeMint?  Or someone who'll probably try to calibrate his message to serve ambitions for higher office, a la Rubio?  Is Cruz the type of candidate who could be the "diversity" pick on the VP shortlist for the 2016 GOP presidential nominee, a la Rubio in 2012?  Or is it too early to tell?

[RogueBeaver]

How "Tea Party" is Cruz?  Is he a true believer like DeMint?  Or someone who'll probably try to calibrate his message to serve ambitions for higher office, a la Rubio?  Is Cruz the type of candidate who could be the "diversity" pick on the VP shortlist for the 2016 GOP presidential nominee, a la Rubio in 2012?  Or is it too early to tell?

The Fix put it best: he's a hybrid of Rubio, DeMint and Lee. Most likely he follows the Rubio path IMO.

[Jayhawker]

I keep thinking of the tea party losers who have cost the GOP a Senate majority or jeopardized otherwise sure wins:  Miller (AK), O'Donnell (DE), Murdock (IN), and Fischer (NE).  Cruz isn't in this category, so it is less daunting.

O'Donnell is the only one who fits that category. The GOP still held Alaska, Indiana and Nebraska are still likely GOP

Indiana is not likely GOP. Mourdock will probably hang on, but its a pure tossup.

[smoltchanov]

Expected. During runoffs usually only "faithful of the faithful" vote, so, this is the best situation for extreme candidates in both parties))))

[RogueBeaver]

Tmth, you were right. 57/43 with 95% in.

[Jbrase]

I keep thinking of the tea party losers who have cost the GOP a Senate majority or jeopardized otherwise sure wins:  Miller (AK), O'Donnell (DE), Murdock (IN), and Fischer (NE).  Cruz isn't in this category, so it is less daunting.

O'Donnell is the only one who fits that category. The GOP still held Alaska, Indiana and Nebraska are still likely GOP

Indiana is not likely GOP. Mourdock will probably hang on, but its a pure tossup.

Right now, and thats because I am sure there are still a few butt hurt Lugar supporters, but I think eventually enough of them will come home. I heard earlier that Lugar is getting behind Mourdock so I don't see why this race should remain a toss up much longer.

[Tender Branson]

PPP once again shows how accurate they are.

PPP poll: Cruz+10

Actual result: Cruz+11

[Jayhawker]

I keep thinking of the tea party losers who have cost the GOP a Senate majority or jeopardized otherwise sure wins:  Miller (AK), O'Donnell (DE), Murdock (IN), and Fischer (NE).  Cruz isn't in this category, so it is less daunting.

O'Donnell is the only one who fits that category. The GOP still held Alaska, Indiana and Nebraska are still likely GOP

Indiana is not likely GOP. Mourdock will probably hang on, but its a pure tossup.

Right now, and thats because I am sure there are still a few butt hurt Lugar supporters, but I think eventually enough of them will come home. I heard earlier that Lugar is getting behind Mourdock so I don't see why this race should remain a toss up much longer.

Lugar said right after the election he'd support Mourdock, but he won't be stumping for him.

IIRC, Donnelly raised more than Mourdock in June. If not for the Obamacare vote, I think he'd be running away with this.

[Vasall des Midas]

Congratulations Senator Cruz.

Lets face it, it's highly unlikely he loses the general.

In that spirit, congratulations Representatives Williams, Veasey, Vela, and Stockman. Perhaps a tad too early to add congratulations Representative Weber (though if Nick Lampson manages to return to Congress again, I'll laugh about as long and hard as I will if Roscoe Bartlett survives. Ciro Rodriguez' reretread attempt has ended, meanwhile. Quico can't be happy as Gallego is the stronger GE candidate.)

[Keystone Phil]

How "Tea Party" is Cruz?  Is he a true believer like DeMint?  Or someone who'll probably try to calibrate his message to serve ambitions for higher office, a la Rubio?  Is Cruz the type of candidate who could be the "diversity" pick on the VP shortlist for the 2016 GOP presidential nominee, a la Rubio in 2012?  Or is it too early to tell?

He can't be on the ticket unless we do some tweaking with the Constitution: he was born in Canada.

[jimrtex]

Congratulations Senator Cruz.

Lets face it, it's highly unlikely he loses the general.

In that spirit, congratulations Representatives Williams, Veasey, Vela, and Stockman. Perhaps a tad too early to add congratulations Representative Weber (though if Nick Lampson manages to return to Congress again, I'll laugh about as long and hard as I will if Roscoe Bartlett survives. Ciro Rodriguez' reretread attempt has ended, meanwhile. Quico can't be happy as Gallego is the stronger GE candidate.)

Interesting vote totals:

Primary: Dewhurst 627,731 Cruz 480,558
Runoff: Cruz 631,114, Dewhurst 480,010

[IBDD]

lol interesting indeed a big reversal

[Zioneer]

How "Tea Party" is Cruz?  Is he a true believer like DeMint?  Or someone who'll probably try to calibrate his message to serve ambitions for higher office, a la Rubio?  Is Cruz the type of candidate who could be the "diversity" pick on the VP shortlist for the 2016 GOP presidential nominee, a la Rubio in 2012?  Or is it too early to tell?

He can't be on the ticket unless we do some tweaking with the Constitution: he was born in Canada.

But wasn't he born to an American citizen mother? If he becomes popular enough, I suspect that the GOP will go by the birthright citizenship interpretation.

[krazen1211]

PPP once again shows how accurate they are.

PPP poll: Cruz+10

Actual result: Cruz+11

http://enr.sos.state.tx.us/enr/results/july31_162_state.htm?x=0&y=4214&id=955

Cruz         56.79%
Dewhurst   43.20%


Actually Cruz +13.6.

[Vasall des Midas]

Congratulations Senator Cruz.

Lets face it, it's highly unlikely he loses the general.

In that spirit, congratulations Representatives Williams, Veasey, Vela, and Stockman. Perhaps a tad too early to add congratulations Representative Weber (though if Nick Lampson manages to return to Congress again, I'll laugh about as long and hard as I will if Roscoe Bartlett survives. Ciro Rodriguez' reretread attempt has ended, meanwhile. Quico can't be happy as Gallego is the stronger GE candidate.)

Interesting vote totals:

Primary: Dewhurst 627,731 Cruz 480,558
Runoff: Cruz 631,114, Dewhurst 480,010

Lol, that's hilarious.

[stegosaurus]

A bit short of my >60% prediction, but a decisive win none-the-less. I'm not a tea partier (I actually support the ACA) and I have strong disagreements with him on a number of issues, but Ted Cruz is an honest, hardworking individual who genuinely wants what (he thinks) is best for Texas and America. All things considered, he'll be the statesman that an entitled brat like Dewhurst could never be and I'm glad people here came around to this.

In other good news; Fmr. Lt. Governor and celebrated moderate Republican Bill Ratliff's son (Bennett Ratliff) narrowly beat out  Steve Nguyen, an optometrist who refers to himself as "Doctor" and who went to Washington to lobby for the bill (ACA) that he now says is "inconsistent with American values". It was narrow (51-49, ~350 votes), but a bullet was dodged for the people of NW Dallas.

[SteveRogers]

How "Tea Party" is Cruz?  Is he a true believer like DeMint?  Or someone who'll probably try to calibrate his message to serve ambitions for higher office, a la Rubio?  Is Cruz the type of candidate who could be the "diversity" pick on the VP shortlist for the 2016 GOP presidential nominee, a la Rubio in 2012?  Or is it too early to tell?

He can't be on the ticket unless we do some tweaking with the Constitution: he was born in Canada.

But wasn't he born to an American citizen mother? If he becomes popular enough, I suspect that the GOP will go by the birthright citizenship interpretation.

Yeah, his mother was a U.S. citizen, so he should be fine as far as birthright citizenship goes.

[IDS Speaker Ben Kenobi]

How will Texas feel having a Canadian senator?

[Joe Republic]

How will Texas feel having a Canadian senator?

... with a Mexican name?

[nclib]

County map, anyone?

I'm a bit disappointed about Cruz winning, even if their voting records would have been similar. It's not a good situation for the Dems for the far-right to get energized (unless it would result in another Angle, O'Donnell, etc.). Also, another token minority GOPer helps them pretend they aren't anti-minority (though Cruz is Cuban which is the only minority group that has been consistently GOP).

[stegosaurus]

How will Texas feel having a Canadian senator?

... with a Mexican name?

They'll be too dumb to know the difference. (Seabiscut joke)

[RogueBeaver]

Nclib: OurCampaigns has a map. Blue is Dewhurst, red Cruz.

http://www.ourcampaigns.com/RaceDetail.html?RaceID=767592

[Inks.LWC Supports Chuck Hagel]

I had hoped Dewhurst would win, but I can support Cruz.