Mary Beth Harrell's campaign tells us that PBS's excellent political news program Now will be focusing in on Congressional District 31 in its Nov. 3 episode. It's easy to see why Now would be interested, given the dynamics of the race: In a district that revolves around Fort Hood (and reaches all the way down to north Austin), the hawk is incumbent Republican John Carter, who has no military experience, while the Iraq War opponent is Democrat Harrell, a longtime military wife who currently has two sons serving, including one in Iraq. Now airs on KLRU (Air Channel 18, Cable Channel 9) every Friday at 7:30pm, with repeats Sundays at 10:30am and Wednesdays at 4:30am.

And we put it in the headline because, based on some questions we've fielded, several of you apparently aren't clear on that point. Only Primary, Municipal, and Special Elections have run-offs. General Election races do not. Whoever gets the most votes on Nov. 7 will be our new governor - period - even if that candidate has less than 50% of the vote, as will almost certainly be the case this year.

Leave it to the Travis County Republican Party to piss in the punchbowl. Stacked against Sysiphean odds this election, they recently came out against the bulk of the city's seven bond propositions. As the Statesman reports today, the TCRP statement reads "Austinites should be concerned about the City Council's excessive and frivolous spending and pressure them to focus on providing basic services well." Burn! Only time will tell if their effort has the same sweeping reach of their No Blue Dot campaign. For now, the TCRP is the first (and likely only) group to endorse against specific bonds. But then again, the Statesman hasn't entered the bond endorsements fray just yet...

So, I'm in the great city of St. Louis, writing from my mom's toasted-ravioli plantation in a rural enclave about 45 minutes from Downtown. Downtown is where Busch Stadium is; Busch Stadium is scheduled to host game 4 of the World Series tonight, after game 4 was postponed on Wednesday.

Busch Stadium is scheduled to host me tonight, as well, joining Billy Ray Cyrus in the singing of our National Anthem. Actually, I should clarify that.

If you go to just one UT Lady Longhorns game this year, Friday is the one. Here's why: 1) It's the Aggies, people. We must defeat them. 2) (Well, it's also the last home game; ergo, if you're only going to one, well ...) 3) The Horns will be trying to set a school record with their 15th win of the season. 4) And to extend a six-game win streak. 5) It's the Aggies, and they're No. 5 nationally. 6) That's where No. 10 UT could be, if they win. 7) It's the last home game for seven seniors. 8) It's the Aggies, and we need to show them we can fill a stadium too. 9) Get in for $1; go to Bevo's Bargains for a coupon. 10) Did I mention it's the Aggies? It's all happening 7pm Friday, Mike Myers Stadium;
5:30pm Fan Fest for kids and the childlike.
See the UT web site for more info.

An I-45 series in the MLS playoffs? We'll find out this weekend, as both Dallas and Houston try to advance out of the first round. FC Dallas got a good jump on that in last week's first leg on the road, while the Houston Dynamo got stoned by Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan, who saved an 86th minute penalty kick from Dwayne De Rosario, to preserve Chivas's first-ever playoff win. Both Texas teams are at home for the second leg.

MLS First Round, First Leg Results: East:
NY Red Bulls 0, DC United 1
Chicago Fire 1, N.E. Revolution 0
West:
Colorado Rapids 1, FC Dallas 2
Chivas USA 2, Houston Dynamo 1 There's one game being televised this week: New York at DC United on ESPN2 at 5pm Sunday, Oct 29.

The Chronicle reported last week that Esquire, the famed national men's magazine, endorsed Chris Bell for Texas governor, despite incumbent Rick Perry clearly being more in line with their square-jawed, perfect-hair ideal. But Esquire didn't stop there: they also endorsed in every Congressional race, as well.

   I must destroy Happy Jack.
   I am a sporting man, a gambler, and man of leisure. I am a gentleman.
   All the same, I must destroy Happy Jack.
   The game is shuffleboard, an elegant game played by proud warriors in bars all across this land, and, perhaps not so surprisingly, on the lido deck of many a luxury liner cruising the high seas.
   Happy Jack, the King of the Shuffleboard Table, has been in my nightmares, waking me up in the middle of the night with a cold sweat lining my tired brow, haunting me with visions of horrible and painful defeat.
   “Heh, heh,” his raspy laugh taunts me. “Way too hard!”
   And it’s true. The man is right. I’ve thrown the weight off the end of the board, yet again sealing my fate.
   I am a loser.

This press release was singled out for much-deserved derision here at the Chron: Texas has a fever - and the only prescription is more Chris Bell. I mean, come on!

But it was a welcome bone for yellow dogs – it heralded Bell's pull from the pack into a firm second place. A second survey out today, this one from Rasmussen, confirms the initial SurveyUSA findings. While tucked away behind Rasmussen's subscription-only ramparts, it's noted today over at Daily Kos . Ten points is a lot, but bottom line, Bell's got a much better shot than he did weeks ago.

Or as his campaign puts it: Momentum, thy name is Bell. Who writes these things?