BurkaBlog: Perry clear winner in Belo Debate

[Bern]

...
So, who won? I think Perry was the clear winner. He got all of his messages out, anti-Washington on highway funding and securing the border, proud of having a vision on transportation. He took a big hit on the Enterprise Fund, but he didn’t yield, insisted it would work out. He didn’t ever say Everybody wants to move to Texas or engage in a lot of braggadocio. It was pretty clear that he wasn’t excited about being there, but every time they took a shot at him he would just grin a little more. I’m sure that he was gritting his teeth behind that grin. When he was asked for information, he knew his stuff cold. He came across as a serious politician. Hutchison had no energy. She was very weak on the issue of how to fund TxDOT. It’s like that beer commercial where the guy can’t say he loves the girl. Can’t get the word out. Ttttaxes. Ttttolls. BBBonds. She wants to audit TxDot. Perry killed her. TxDOT gets audited every two years, he said.

Medina came across as more of an amateur this time. Last time she was spunky. This time she was old news. I was impressed that she nailed the question about how much starting school teachers made. The questions weren’t really good for her. She didn’t have a lot of opportunity to score points with the tea party crowd. Her issues are pretty esoteric. Property tax versus consumption tax. Nullification. I think this debate was really set up to be a fight between Hutchison and Perry for the GOP base vote, not the crazies. It was her last chance to win them over, and she didn’t come close to doing it. Perry by a mile.


http://www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/burkablog/?p=6086#more-6086

[Kotin]

what a fucking moron

[james1906]

Perry is so grating. Will Farrell would have to tone himself down to do a parody of him.

[tpreitzel]

We'll see if the registered voters agree with Burka. Hopefully, his rhetoric will merely be a temporal rush of hot air as the dust devil spins through the prairie. Hopefully, Debra will be the F-5 tornado that obliterates her opponents on the way to Austin.

Debra Medina, the F5 tornado of Texan politics.

[Number19]

http://www.texasmonthly.com/blogs/burkablog/?p=6086#more-6086I think this is a pretty fair assessment and matches the analysis that I came away with. Bottom line - Perry did not hurt himself last night and Debra held steady. KBH lost ground.

By merely holding steady during this debate, I think Debra actually scored points with the average GOP voter across the state. What this means is that the substance of the two campaigns will now become the deciding factor. The new polls which should come out on Monday will give a very good indication how the general electorate is responding to Debra's call for the elimination of the property tax and for the stronger use of nullification. These are the two issues which most strike a responsive chord with this demographic and around which her success will evolve.

[lynnf]

I wonder if this a Hegelian technique - state things based on fact to give credibility to what you say, and then give obviously twisted conclusions on each of them.

giving points for grinning when you don't know what to do? this one characteristic shows how biased Burka's evaluation is.

lynn

[Bern]

Maybe it's because I already know details about Perry's record with the vaccination issue, TTC, SBOE appointments and the Enterprise Fund that I found his answers wholly disingenuous and unsatisfying. Perry did come off as having a grasp of the issues, but it's clear that he's been there too long.

BTW, Burka is the senior executive editor and political columnist for Texas Monthly in case you weren't aware. Lot's of people (older folks who turn out to vote) read his stuff.

[Eric21ND]

What debate was he watching?

[ctiger2]

Texas has a chance to lead the way by going with Medina. It would be a shame for them to pass up this rare opportunity.

[TastyWheat]

At least most commentators didn't think Medina came in last. As long as someone else loses ground she's in a good spot. I can guarantee two things: there will be a run-off election and Debra will be in that run-off.

[ForLiberty-RonPaul]

F*$^ You Frank!

[pacelli]

Esoteric.. great way to describe that guy's thought process and listening skills.

[undergroundrr]

Thanks. I hadn't noticed that comment. Still, the headline is him trying to keep people from thinking he's some kind of "libertarian wingnut." He's written positively on Medina before but is apparently afraid to keep doing it.

Yes, he has a good political sense. At least in a nothing-new-under-the-sun kind of way. Let's hope a powerful liberty candidate like Medina is something he hasn't considered before and will surprise his jaded sensibilities.

[erowe1]

That twisted logic where he rationalized his law mandating giving the HPV vaccine to girls in school was because he's so strongly pro-life is considered good debating?

[Charles Wilson]

What debate was he watching?

I think Burka's evaluation was a lot of wishful thinking. We will know for sure when the polls come out, but regardless of the poll, I think Medina knocked their socks off. Her poise was very good and her answers were right on target. This is an upset in the making.

[ctiger2]

I think Burka's evaluation was a lot of wishful thinking. We will know for sure when the polls come out, but regardless of the poll, I think Medina knocked their socks off. Her poise was very good and her answers were right on target. This is an upset in the making.

I think you're right.

Prediction:
Perry - 36%
Hutchinson - 22%
Medina - 33%
Undecided - 9%

[Flash]

Anyone know when the next polls come out?

[malkusm]

Anyone know when the next polls come out?

I would also like to know this.

[Number19]

Anyone know when the next polls come out?Early next week. After the last debate, they were out on Monday.

[Number19]

I think you're right.

Prediction:
Perry - 36%
Hutchinson - 22%
Medina - 33%
Undecided - 9%This would be great, but probably too optimistic. Perry and Hutchinson could be close to these numbers, but for Debra to surge to 33% is asking a little too much. I'm looking for something between 20% and 25%, with KBH and Debra being in a statistical dead heat and with the undecideds being a little higher.

[Texan4Life]

F*$^ You Frank!

This

[Dianne]

Who is behind those postings, LaRaza???