Texas GOP Chair: State Could Be In Play In 2016 If Hillary Runs

[DonViejo]

Source: TPM



It's been more than three decades since Texas went blue in a presidential election, but a top Republican there fears that the GOP may not have the state's 38 electoral votes in the bag in 2016 if Hillary Clinton is at the top of the Democratic ticket.

Steve Munisteri, chairman of the Texas GOP, told Real Clear Politics in a story published Friday that Clinton would strip the state of its "solid Republican" status and insisted that national Republicans are taking her candidacy seriously — even in the crimson red Lone Star State.

"If she's the nominee, I would say that this is a 'lean Republican state' but not a ‘solid Republican state,'" Munisteri said. "I dont know anyone nationally who's scoffing at this. The national party leadership is aware and tells me they're taking it seriously."

A survey released late last month from Democratic-leaning Public Policy Polling showed Clinton more than holding her own in Texas when matched up against potential 2016 contenders such as Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) and New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R). Democrats have not carried Texas in a presidential election since 1976, when former President Jimmy Carter won the state.

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Read more: http://livewire.talkingpointsmemo.com/entry/texas-gop-chair-state-could-be-in-play

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Link to full Real Clear Politics article
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2013/02/22/can_democrats_mess_with_texas_in_2016_117112.html

[Botany]

1. Texas will be in play no matter what because of changing demographics

n/t

[Renew Deal]

2. Not sure how soon it will be in play.

Obama lost Texas 57-41 and by over a million votes.

[Botany]

3. it will take time no doubt but ..

.... the angry old white man will continue to die off and the % of latinos as part of
the population will keep keep growing. Although Louie Gohmert and Steve Stockman
still make me worry about the people of Texas.

[LonePirate]

32. The suburban counties in Texas were overwhelmingly red in 2012

They are responsible for that million vote loss. It's going to be tough to overcome that margin no matter what Democrat runs.

[loudsue]

4. The GOP is DYING for Hillary to run.

She's their dream candidate.

[OKNancy]

7. they will be dead alright

but not like your prediction

[loudsue]

9. Not gonna happen.

Just isn't gonna happen.

[Paladin]

10. If Hillary Isn't The Repub's Worst Nightmare For 2016, Then Who Is? (nt)

[loudsue]

11. Um....a liberal, maybe?

Someone who might actually get something done for the people? The majority of Americans are tired of being duped.

[Paladin]

13. Um...If You Have Somebody In Mind, Spill It. (nt)

[graham4anything]

14. Aren't you a President Obama fan?

[Beacool]

16. You're dreaming.........

[TheDebbieDee]

27. The repukes are scared shitless of Hillary running in 2016. They attacked

her during that Benghazi hearing like she had already announced her candidacy.....

And she made them all look STYOO-PID!

[Paladin]

35. I Agree With You, Completely. (nt)

[Le Taz Hot]

36. "Don't throw me in that briar patch!"

You are EXACTLY right.

[daybranch]

50. Let me see

They demonized her as less than a woman when Bill was in the White House. No other candidate can energize republicans like Hillary. They crossed party lines to vote for her in Ohiio rather than Obama whom they feared would be more progressive. I think a lot of defining Hillary as a crazy but crafty liberal has already been done and they want to make sure a more progressive candidate whom they cannot beat in a National election will not emerge.

[magical thyme]

5. I refuse to be distracted by any speculation about 2016

Keeping my eye on the 2014 ball. We need to take back the house and increase our senators.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

34. Absolutely magical thyme!

You're a very smart magician.

[libodem]

41. That is the magical answer

Hubadah, my wise friend.

[Sekhmets Daughter]

42. Good Morning!

[libodem]

43. Hi friend

Good morning to you, too.

[Chellee]

45. You're right, of course....

but the house and the senate should not be our biggest focus. State houses, governorships, that's where our focus needs to be. If we can get the house back, and increase our margins in the senate, great, but its the states where the battle needs to be won.

[Coolest Ranger]

6. Agreed more progressive Senators and house members

[toddwv]

8. A prelude to changing the voting rules.

"We gotta stop the libruls!"

[hughee99]

12. I don't believe this for a second. n/t

[Lil Missy]

15. From your lips to God's ears. n/t

[Beacool]

17. It's worth repeating: From his lips to God's ears.

It would also have the added bonus of watching heads explode here and on the RW sites.

[lark]

18. Interesting

So the thinking is Texans would rather have a woman as president than a yankee or a wetback
(in Texans terms)? I doubt it, I have lots of RW relatives there and they tend to like no one other than old white folks, men particularly. Think they'd stay home rather than vote for Hillary. Staying home is OK with me, fine strategy for them to use.

[PDittie]

19. Lived in Texas all my life.

So trust me when I say 2016 is too soon for it to flip, Hillary or no.

[Doc Holliday]

37. True enough...

....but she sure seems to be in a position to chip away the stone, so to speak. Some of it, maybe a lot.

Here in Lubbock...well, let's be polite about it and say that the majority of the very red West Texas voters would vote for anyone but Hillary Clinton. They didn't (and don't) like Obama much, either.

[PDittie]

44. Lived in Plainview in the mid-to-late '80's

and then Midland until 1992. Grew up in Beaumont, have lived in Houston for twenty years. It's the same all over (except for the urban metros, Beaumont -- but just barely, El Paso, and the RGV).

There's still lots of hearts and minds that need changin'. Just look at Ted Cruz, for cripes' sake. That's what 55% of the voters think is a great senator.

[northoftheborder]

46. I agree with you.

[stevenleser]

20. He is not the first person to note this.

Hillary is outpolling Rubio and Jeb Bush in Florida, and Christie in New Jersey.

If she decides to run, no one in either party can stop her.

[antigop]

21. Add "1" to the "inevitability"meme counter. nt

[mac56]

22. This story has a suspicious vibe to it.

"Oh, we REALLY REALLY REALLY hope Hillary doesn't run! REALLY REALLY REALLY! We're sure to lose SO BADLY if she does! (*snerk*)"

[Lobo27]

23. Last election

all major cities went blue other then Ft. Worth. From El Paso to Laredo was all blue. Need some of the counties in the Lubbock area, and some near the Louisiana to go blue. I guess it'll depend a lot on the suburbs around the major cities. Like Dallas for example has cities like Plano, Arlington, Mesquite around it, and they have like a population nearly 800k between the three.

[Arkana]

24. I would laugh and never, ever stop.

[windowpilot]

25. No one thought Obama could win the 2008 Primaries,

but anything is possible against a duped candidate... Fuck a bush* enabler...

[ccinamon]

26. We could be Purple by 2014 IF....

we had had state and county chairs actually INTERESTED and INVOLVED in getting the minorities registered and to the polls to vote in the past 10 years or so. In too many counties, and too many state chairs, sadly, that was not the case.

But, they were old, white men in many of those positions who many times, did not act much better than the racist white republicans -- they just hid it better/couched it in milder, less insulting words.

The main theme from them for years has been, it's not time, not too fast, we have to be nice, let's not rock the boat, Texas is conservative we don't want to alienate swing voters, etc,etc (mean while, they don't fucking care about alienating the liberals, so they end up with very few votes from liberals and from the swing voters!)

When the LGBT finally had enough of that kind of bullshit, and started rocking the boat, look what happened: the right to marry, repeal of DADT, etc ...

TIME TO ROCK THE BOAT, KICK ASS, CAUSE A RUCKUS!

Being "nice" doesn't work!

[tabbycat31]

47. Are you involved in your county's politics

Since you seem to complain about the state and county chairs, why don't you run and get a team together to get the minorities involved.

My own county chair (who took over in June) and won a lot of municipal races in November. He's starting to get noticed statewide (our governor actually called him out).

[Blue4Texas]

28. Are they saying that because it's true

Or are they saying that because it's not.

GOP always up to no good.

[Tx4obama]

29. Lot of us Democrats down here in Texas...

In 2008 and in 2012 Obama won the majority of our largest cities/counties here in Texas: Austin/Travis, Dallas/Dallas, Houston/Harris, El Paso, San Antonio, etc.
(Ft.Worth is the only big one that Obama didn't get)

There are MILLIONS of Democrats here in Texas.

In my opinion, Texas is really more PURPLE now than it is red.

[DhhD]

30. The momentum needs to be moved to this end of the four year (and two year) period.

Get out newsletters, register voters, get real loud-call people, hand out flyers on your block about the what is coming up for a vote, would be of great service. People would need to see the issues that are being voting on and make a decision to see if it is in their best interest, while in the privacy of their homes. What bills are being debated and voted on? Congress is a, behind your back organization, only if we let it be.

For instance, voting to decrease school funding even more will help close your neighborhood school. I would say that most everyone would disagree with their elected lawmaker for voting for such a thing. Most people do not realize that Food Stamps for the poor are connected to the Farm Bill.

If Friday Night Football was on the agenda to be cut from the Education Funding, there would be EXPLOSIVE effects and attention when, not if, the word got out.

[Kingofalldems]

31. I throw all my support to the nominee

whoever he/she might be.

I will treat all candidates with respect during the primaries.

[BWCC]

33. Long way away..

I live in AZ which is the other red state the Democrats are salivating over. Let me tell you I worked like a dog for Carmona and Obama this year and it just isn't as easy as you think.

First of all, Latino voter registration and participation is VERY low. Only a little over half of registered Latinos actually vote. And for anyone who has ever tried to register Latinos, the apathy is just unbelievable.

Texas is like the rest of the country. Inner urban areas are blue, suburbs and countryside are dead red.

To me, the fact that Hillary polls well in a state that just elected Ted Cruz tells me her DLC/Blue Dog credentials remain impeccable..

[w4rma]

38. "Oh please Brer Fox, whatever you do, please don't throw me into the briar patch." (nt)

[blkmusclmachine]

39. The Clintons. More "bipartisan" BS.

Although the betrayal was called "triangulation" back then.

[Dustlawyer]

40. If the DNC would give some support like

Howard Dean did with the 50 State strategy we could possibly do it by 2015. We have pockets of deep red and the Districts are gerrymandered, but the cracks are getting wider in their armor. Besides, more people are getting tired of life under Repug rule here with the low paying jobs and austerity in Govt, including education!

[AllyCat]

48. That's okay. Wisconsin, Michigan, and PA will rig the vote for y'all!

I need to move out of this state. It is horrible.

[silvershadow]

49. Translation: The Bush family would prefer a turf war with the Clinton family as opposed to

moving further toward the direction we are hopefully headed.

[mercymechap]

51. Funny, I left the state in 1975

and it turned red soon after. Well, I'm back, and I'm doing all I can to turn it blue again. Hillary, you go girl!