Politex

Bush 41 and 43 throwing out Game 4 first pitch

Former presidents George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush will throw out the ceremonial first pitch Sunday for Game 4 of the World Series. W has been a frequent visitor to Rangers Ballpark this year and was the club's managing general partner from 1989 to 1994.

Star-Telegram reporter Jeff Wilson has the details at our Foul Territory blog.

All this early voting is good for turnout, right?

Across the state, early voting numbers are up. If recent trends hold, more than half of all voters will vote early rather than on Tuesday.

But some recent research suggests that having an early voting option may not actually be improving turnout in Texas.

Exhibit A: Researchers Barry Burden and Kenneth Mayer, two political science professors at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, wrote in a New York Times Op-ed published last week that early voting actually depresses overall turnout. They argued that the availability of early voting dilutes the intensity of Election Day and prompts campaigns to spend less on Election Day turnout efforts.

"Controlling for all of the other factors thought to shape voter participation, our model showed that the availability of early voting reduced turnout in the typical county by three percentage points," Burden and Mayer wrote.

Exhibit B comes from two other political science professors, Elizabeth Rigby from the University of Houston and Melanie Springer of Washington University in St. Louis. They have a paper forthcoming in Political Research Quarterly on how electoral reform measures like early voting impacts whether wealthy and poor people are more likely to vote. Their conclusions dispute one of the main arguments for early voting -- that it makes it more convenient for people of all backgrounds to cast their ballot.

Ribgy and Springer argue that early voting tends to increase the inequality of voting in a state -- richer people vote in higher numbers while fewer poorer people cast ballots. They found this to be especially true in states where there already is a large split in voting patterns based on income. Texas has the fourth highest level of "income bias" in voting, behind Hawaii, Arizona and Arkansas, according to the paper.

Both sets of researchers offered the same prescription for improving voter turnout: allowing for voter registration on Election Day.

-Aman Batheja

Perry ahead by 12 in new Star-Telegram poll

From Star-Telegram Austin Bureau Chief Dave Montgomery:

Rick Perry is within reach of securing an unprecedented third four-year term as the state's longest-serving governor, according to a new survey showing the Republican incumbent with a 12-point lead over Democrat Bill White heading into Tuesday's election.

Perry led White 49 to 37 percent in the survey conducted for the Star-Telegram and other major Texas newspapers.

Green Party nominee Deb Shafto, a retired Houston teacher, had 3 percent, and Libertarian Kathie Glass, a Houston lawyer, had 2 percent. Six percent were undecided and 4 percent refused to divulge their choices.

The survey by New York-based Blum & Weprin Associates showed that Perry has widened his lead into double digits from a poll in September, bucking a fierce anti-incumbency mood among voters and any misgivings over his tenure as governor.

Pollsters credited Perry's widening momentum to his ability to tap into voter hostility against Washington and President Barack Obama's Democratic policies, as well as his apparent success in portraying Texas as much better off than other states.

"Texas is voting for symbolic secession, choosing Texas over Washington," said Blum & Weprin President Mickey Blum.

More details from the poll here.

Perry's YouTube account shut down by copyright claims (Updated)

Gov. Rick Perry's campaign has used multiple YouTube accounts over the past year. During the primary, they had a specific account devoted to posting videos bashing Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison. Immediately after the primary, the campaign took all those videos down. 

This time, YouTube did the job for them. According to NBCDFW.com reporter Omar Villafranca, the Google-owned video site recently shut down Perry's "Liberal Bill" YouTube channel due to "multiple third-party notifications of copyright infringement." Villafranca noted that several of the videos in question featured copyrighted music.

Perry's camp is one of several campaigns that have incorporated popular music into its online campaign ads this election cycle. As we reported in March, most candidates don't bother to secure the rights to use music by artists like U2, Fergie and the Beatles before including them in web-only videos.

Earlier this year, Perry spokesman Mark Miner said one of the reasons the use of the music was kosher was because the clips were so short. Other campaigns also claim that use of the music online is "fair use."

In some cases, candidates have freed themselves from copyright law restrictions if they allow their campaign videos to be used as commercials for the songs heard in them. When YouTube's Content ID system flags copyrighted music in a video, it will give the copyright owner the choice of having the video taken down or making money off of it by adding a pop-up ad with a link to buy the song. Those ads showed up in some Perry and Hutchison campaign videos earlier this year.

This isn't the first time Perry's camp has been hit with a copyright claim. In the summer of 2009, a law firm representing the band The Postal Service contacted the campaign over a YouTube video introducing Perry's Home Headquarters program designed to rally supporters. The video featured the band's song "Such Great Heights." Perry's campaign quickly reposted the video using different music.

UPDATE: "YouTube didn't appreciate our campaign using some of the music we chose for our parody videos," Perry spokesman Mark Miner said.

White’s campaign countered that the videos were taken down for illegal activity on the part of the Perry camp.

"He's suffering the consequences of his casual relationship with the law," spokeswoman Katy Bacon said.

-Aman Batheja

A bet is a bet

There are lots of bets flying around about who will win the World Series.

Lt. Gov. David Dewhurst is one of the latest ones to get a piece of the action.

He made a “friendly wager” with California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado about the outcome of the series.

If Texas wins, Dewhurst gets a plate of Santa Maria style barbeque – and more. If the San Francisco Giants win, Maldonado wins a “Texas-size portion” of beef brisket.

“The San Francisco Giants are going to learn pretty quick that everything’s bigger here in Texas,” Dewhurst said.

Maldonado is pretty confident too. “In the unlikely event California does not win this series, I’m prepared to deliver Santa Maria style barbeque, our famous California wine and sandwiches from San Francisco’s famous Ike’s Deli to Lt. Governor Dewhurst and his staff,” he said.

-- Anna M. Tinsley

Obama calls into Dallas radio station

President Barack Obama called into Rickey Smiley's morning show on 97.9 The Beat this morning to urge listeners to vote.

Obama has been giving interviews to local radio stations around the country in recent days.

Once the election is over, Obama told Smiley that he hoped that the winners can get out of campaign mode and work together.

"I’m willing to compromise on certain issues but there are certain core issues I’m not willing to compromise on. I’m not going to cut education spending by 20% to pay for tax cuts for the wealthy," Obama said.

He later added, "We don't have time to be fussing and fighting."

Smiley talked to Obama about music the president has been listening to lately.

"I actually have been listening to some of the neo-soul...the First Lady turned me on to Anthony David. He's got some nice music," Obama said.

Smiley jokingly asked if Obama could raise the speed limit to 85 miles per hour.

"No we're not going to do that. We need the revenue from all those tickets you're paying," Obama shot back.

-Aman Batheja

Will victory be sweet for Arlington mayor?

If the Texas Rangers beat the San Francisco Giants in the World Series, it will be extra sweet for Arlington Mayor Robert Cluck.

As part of a friendly wager announced Tuesday, San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom has promised to send Cluck treats from the city's Ghirardelli Chocolate Factory, along with some other local fare, if the Giants lose. If the Giants win, Cluck has promised to send Newsom some of Arlington's Spring Creek Barbeque.

"I absolutely think the Rangers are going to sweep the series," said Cluck, who plans to attend the home games.

But the bet goes beyond the taste buds this time.

Both have also agreed that the losing mayor will wear the winning team's jersey while conducting community service in that town.

Newsom would spend a day volunteering at a Miracle League baseball game in Arlington and helping at the nonprofit Mission Arlington, while Cluck would spend a day with the Junior Giants youth program for at-risk children.

"I'm giving Mayor Newsom an opportunity to back out before the series begins," Cluck said. "If not, we are looking forward to Mayor Newsom coming to Arlington and spending a day in our community."

-Susan Schrock

Barton and Pelosi bet on World Series

U.S. Rep. Joe Barton, R-Arlington, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., she of the Bay Area, have a little wager going for the World Series.

Just like San Francisco's mayor, Pelosi is offering up Ghirardelli chocolate. Barton is putting up a pecan pie from Collin Street Bakery in Corsicana.

"I am looking forward to an exciting World Series with the young and talented Texas Rangers, but I am certain that the grit, determination and team spirit of the Giants will once again lead them to victory and shock the world," Pelosi said.

Said Barton: "The Texas Rangers' famous motto is 'One Riot, One Ranger,' and they are known for always getting their man. This baseball team shares a name and a mission with those law enforcement legends. They have already taken down the Rays and the Yankees. The Giants are next on the wanted poster.

Barton already won some goodies off a New Yorker -- a package of deli products after the Yankees' collapse in the playoffs. He's hoping for chocolates for dessert.

-- Maria Recio

 

You've got mail, Arlington

As hundreds of thousands of dollars poured into two Texas House races based in Arlington this month, much of the money went directly to voters’ mailboxes in the form of campaign fliers, according to campaign finance reports released this week.

Two Democratic state representatives, Chris Turner of Burleson and Paula Pierson of Arlington, are fighting to hold on to their seats against spirited Republican challenges. Bill Zedler, a former state representative, is trying to win back his seat from Turner. Former Arlington Councilwoman Barbara Nash is running against Pierson.

The two races are among the most competitive in North Texas right now. This week, the campaigns were required to report their fundraising and expenditure activity from Sept. 24 to Oct. 23.

All four candidates reported large in-kind donations spent on direct mail. Voters in the two districts have seen the result: a steady stream of campaign mailers, many of them portraying opponents in an unfavorable light.

Zedler reported raising the most, $437,219, with $53,454 left at the end of the reporting period. More than half of Zedler’s contributions came from Texans for Lawsuit Reform, a political action committee that usually supports Republicans. The group gave Zedler $257,630, nearly all in in-kind contributions, records show.The PAC spent $130,000 on television advertising and $126,729 on direct mail.

Turner reported raising $217,126 and $166,399 remaining. The largest donor was the Democratic-leaning Texans for Insurance Reform, which spent its entire $51,467 contribution to Turner on direct mail.

That PAC was also Pierson’s most generous donor, giving her $55,416, with $15,406 spent directly on campaign mail, according to her finance report. Overall, Pierson raised $220,163 and had $101,014 left over.

Nash took in $163,183 and reported $61,717 remaining. Like Zedler, she received a big boost from Texans for Lawsuit Reform. The group gave her $64,381, with $50,556 of that an in-kind contribution on direct mail.

Libertarian Colin Sewards is also running against Pierson. His campaign finance report was not available on the Texas Ethics Commission’s website Tuesday.

-Aman  Batheja

Perry leads White by 10-ponts, latest poll shows.

The race for governor is in its final full week with a new poll showing Republican incumbent Rick Perry with a 10-point lead over Democratic challenger Bill White.

Perry, seeking an unprecedented third four year term, leads the former Houston mayor by 50 percent to 40 percent in the latest University of Texas/Texas Tribune poll.

Libertarian Kathie Glass had 8 percent and Green Party nominee had 2 percent.  The survey of 797 voters was conducted Oct. 12-18.  Early voting started on Oct. 18 and ends Friday.

The poll bolstered predictions that 2010 is aa Republican year, particularly in red-state Texas.  GOP incumbents in other statewide races led Democratic opponents with margins between 13 and 20 points. 

-- Dave Montgomery