August 29, 2006

Texas 22: Too Cute By...

On the surface, the decision by Gov. Rick Perry to call for a special election to fill out the remainder of Rep. Tom DeLay's term seems smart.

It gives GOPer Shelley Sekula-Gibbs a bona fide ballot line. And it reminds Republicans in their districts whom to write in when filling out the other ballot that same day -- the ballot to determine who will actually replace DeLay when his term expries in January.

But will it make things easier?

Rick Hasen isn't so sure:

It does put her name in front of voters for the special election (perhaps making it easier for voters who want to cast a write-in vote for her in the general election to do so). But given all the confusion with the write-in campaign, I wonder how many voters will see her name, think that this is a "special" election, and think they need not cast a write-in vote for her as well. Lots of confusion to be expected here

There is also a slight galvanization effect. Dems have another talking point to ladel at Sekula-Gibbs for being a crony of the DeLay/Perry Republicans. (It's not clear whether Perry, locked in a four-way re-election race, is terribly popular in the 22nd.)

Posted at 07:18 PM

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