Cornyn vs. Noriega
With Watts gone, Rep. Noriega becomes the sole serious challenger for Cornyn's U.S. Senate seat.
By Richard Whittaker, 11:46AM, Tue. Oct. 23, 2007
"Demographics is destiny" is a mantra amongst electioneers and campaign professionals. With the withdrawal this morning of Mikal Watts from the Democratic primary for the US Senate, that leaves the real election fight next November looking like incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn, R-TX, vs State Rep. Rick Noriega, D-Houston. For campaign watchers, this is Old Texas versus New Texas, that demographic tipping point they've been waiting for in election politics.
Of course, campaign staff always used to say that money equaled votes, and cash was the selling point for the previously unelected Watts. By late September, he reportedly had an $8.3 million war chest, but since he'd loaned his own campaign $7.5 million of his own cash, that sum doesn't sound so great.
While some observers had been boosting the Watts campaign as fresh blood in the race, the political novice looked more like fresh meat. Politicos with slightly longer memories also saw the shadow of Tony Sanchez on him. The Democratic 2002 gubernatorial candidate came in on a wave of cash and good will, and then took an 18-point drubbing from Rick Perry.
The thinking back then among campaign managers was that, with a rising Hispanic vote, a Hispanic candidate could take down Perry. Now those same politicos are looking to Noriega to take down Cornyn. Yet the glib "demographics is destiny" line could just be an excuse. The five-term state rep and career military man comes to the campaign with endorsements from ranking state and national Democrats and, importantly, more individual donors than Watts ever managed. It's these traditional campaign assets that could make him the biggest threat to Cornyn.
Got something to say on the subject? Send a letter to the editor.
A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.
Brant Bingamon, Nov. 7, 2022
Oct. 14, 2019
Richard Whittaker, Oct. 7, 2009
Lee Nichols, Jan. 27, 2009
June 27, 2024
June 28, 2024
Elections, Election 2008, John Cornyn, Rick Noriega, Mikal Watts