Harris on the Colorado

Skelly, Jaworksi, Noriega, Matula: The future of Houston? (Photo by Richard Whittaker)

It's no secret that Harris County is key for the Democrats' Turn Texas Blue strategy. So this morning's NetRoots Nation meet-and-great forum for Texas candidates was, unsurprisingly dominated by Houston-area Hopefuls: former Galveston city council member Joe "Thundersticks" Jaworski running in Senate District 11, education activist and House District 129 candidate Sherrie Matula, Rep. Rick Noriega (going after U.S. Sen. John Cornyn), and renewable energy businessman and Congressional District TX-7 heavy-hitter Mike Skelly. The hope is the netroots will add some national name awareness and some cash contributions.

Noriega admits it was his wife Melissa that realized the potential of the netroots when he was serving in Afghanistan. He argues they help because there are four kinds of candidates: the money man that can pay their own way; The Jessie Ventura-style celebrity; the self-fulfilling prophecy candidate ("no money equals no coverage equals no money"); and the people who tap into an existing community upswell of discontent.

That's why Democrats and netroots work so well together, and why the netroots have helped change not simply the mentality but the dynamics of Democratic campaigning. When it comes to getting campaign information out and battling dis-information, "A postage stamp can't cut it any more," he said.

As for cash, Noriega noted there was a campaign bash for him on Wednesday night that he had to attend by video conference. He wasn't being rude, but it would have been a bit hard to travel to London, England, to pick the checks up in person.