Today is the last day for early voting in the Texas Primaries, with the election date next Tuesday. I have just received the Endorsement of the Houston Chronicle, to go with that of the Austin-American Statesman from a week, ago. Both of these papers are middle of the spectrum. Add to them the endorsement of the ultra-progressive Austin Chronicle and it makes a clean sweep of the major papers in CD 10, which picks up the Houston suburbs and runs to the far side of Austin, TX. I have also received the endorsements of every organization in Houston and Austin that endorses in this four-person race. You can see copies of the articles of each paper, and the list of endorsers on my website:
HERE. But, I will extract a few quotes.
From the Houston Chronicle: "The Chronicle urges voters to support Ted Ankrum, a former Department of Energy executive during the presidency of Jimmy Carter with previous experience as a diplomat and service in the US Navy, including four tours of duty during the Vietnam War....This decorated veteran is a member of the so-called Band of Brothers, 50 men and a handful of women, all running as Democrats for Congress....Ankrum clearly is the best-qualified Democrat in the primary to make the uphill race against incumbent Michael T. McCaul in one of the more extremely gerrymandered congressional districts in Texas."
From the Austin-American Statesman: "Of the four Democrats, Ted Ankrum, a three-tour (sic) Vietnam Veteran, is clearly the best choice....Ankrum,63,offers Democratic voters in the 10th Congressional district a superb resume and a wealth of experience. He is the best choice in the primary race."
From the Austin Chronicle: "Given the long-shot district, we believe that Ankrum, a veteran who served three (sic) tours in Vietnam, would have the best bet at reaching moderates and alienated conservatives (although John Kerry showed the limitations of this strategy) ..... We support Ankrum as the best of four progressive candidates who care deeply about America and it's current direction."
As mentioned, I am in a four-way primary. One of my opponents has been getting a lot of local and national coverage. I speak of Sid Smith, who is 95 years old. You got to love the guy, and the slogan on his bumper stickers and yard signs will be a classic; "At 95, who needs term limits" However much I love him, though, it's hard to overcome the novelty factor and news coverage of his candidacy.
We are having a very low turnout in early voting in all of the area covered by TX 10. As of yesterday, only about 1% of expected voters had used early voting. It has ranged as high as 30% in past elections. There are a number of reasons for this. The far right doesn't have any dogs in this race, except for conservative radio commentator Dan Patrick for State Senate District 7. That district is having 3:1 Republican turnout. There are two independents who will try to get on the ballot for Governor, after the primary: Carol Keeton Strayhorn and Kinky Freidman. In Texas, one may not sign the nominating petition for an independent if one has voted in a party primary. A lot of Democrats want to sign Strayhorn's petition, because she will dilute the Republican vote in Nov. Kinky is a favorite of all kinds of people, so many are also holding back from the primary to sign his petition. This makes my primary a real "get out the vote" effort, at this time.