Texas: Path to Success for Democrats and Progressives?

At a time when many Washington political strategy advisors concluded that it was impossible for Democrats to win a majority in the United States Senate in the context of the 2006 mid-term elections, there were some heretical strategists who predicted that the simple fact of attention to Texas voters by progressives and the Democratic Party might put Texas in play for the 2008 election. That heretical prediction now has credence. This year, unexpected circumstances gave Democratic candidates for the nomination no choice but to make their case to voters in Texas.

It remains to be seen whether an influential group of pessimistic progressive thinkers and leaders will pay heed to the concerns and enormous political influence of the 12+ million voters of Texas now that the Texas primary is behind us. Past strategic approaches have been driven by automatic exclusion of Texas: a proven calculus for defeat. Acropolis Review, of course, believes such neglect of Texas would be an enormous strategic error for the reasons set forth by Capitol Annex and Burnt Orange Report below. Removing John Cornyn from office and electing Rick Noriega to the United States Senate are goals that require sustained and keen attention to the interests and concerns of all Texans - statewide - in the months ahead.

Burnt Orange Report:

While both Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama would rack up winning scenarios nationally, what is most stunning is that Texas, yes-Texas, is a swing state.

[…]

In short- Texas is in play and Democrats could win Texas. Having a poll show the
presidential race close here has huge implications for statewide candidates like
Senate Nominee Rick Noriega and our statewide judicial slate.

Capitol Annex:

For a decade, presidential candidates and the party have zipped in and out of
Texas, dragging their sacks, punching the numbers in the ATM, and filling those
sacks with cash before jumping on planes and zipping off to states like Ohio and
Florida–states that “matter” in a general election.

[…]

With record turnout figures in counties across the state–for Democrats–and voters with no primary history and little general election history coming out in droves to vote for Democrats, it would stand to reason that a light would go on in someone’s head and they would, perhaps, say, “Oh, my God! With a little money and attention, we could have helped turn the tide in Texas two years ago!"

Since much of that turnout has to do with the presidential race–ads in every TV market, candidates stopping in major cities across the state, etc.–one wonders if anyone realizes that, if the turnout is replicated, Texas might actually deliver its electoral votes to a Democrat in November.

And, before you say, “oh, that’s a long shot,” consider this: Dallas has turned “blue.” Houston, barring some major disaster, should turn “blue” this fall–that’s the third largest city in the nation, in Texas, turning “blue.” Will anyone outside of Texas
notice?

[…]

This week, we’ve heard candidates talk about places like San Antonio and Laredo and Brownsville–places not mentioned in a presidential campaign in a long, long time. Will those cities matter in the general election? Will the nominee be concerned about assuring they win the Rio Grande Valley, or will Democrats–nationally–just remain concerned about what contributors in Texas are the biggest “bundlers?”