News Roundup, 02/26/08: Early Voting and the Trials of McCain

Early voting continues in Texas at a breakneck pace, far exceeding the early vote numbers from 2004, and often exceeding them by ten times or more.

Patrick McLeod took a look at early vote numbers from Harris, Dallas, Tarrant, Bexar, Travis, and Denton counties and the final assessment is: yowza. I'm just curious to find out how many of these people are not only first time primary voters, but people that haven't voted in a general election.

John McCain has had a few strange days, and Monday was no exception. First he admits that if he can't convince the American people to think like he does about Iraq, he has no chance of winning the general election. Then the DNC files an official complaint against him with the FEC over his dubious finance activities in which he continues to raise money beyond the public financing limits he agreed to when he took public matching funds. Oh, John McCain. Can't you do anything right?

Texas Governor Rick Perry was especially dismissive of Mike Huckabee in a recent interview, but Huckabee has no real reason to get out. We've been discussing it around the office and we think Huckabee is just having a great time, thanks, and will stay in until the end. Or at least until he's reasonably sure McCain won't implode, catapulting Huckabee into being the nominee.

Or maybe the switch to Huckabee wouldn't be automatic. Believe it or not, Mitt Romney might be getting back into the race. Or at least that's what one of his sons / chief campaign staffers has been hinting at. I feel like something like this might further weaken the GOP even if conservatives might be more excited about Mitt Romney than John McCain.

To close today, we have finished releasing our interviews from the debate in Austin, listed below. Stay with us today for coverage of Bill Clinton's appearances in DFW and tonight's Democratic debate, which George will be liveblogging. Thanks for reading.

The Last of the Spin Room Videos:
State Representative Senfronia Thompson
State Senator Royce West
State Representative Ana Hernandez
State Representative Rafael Anchia