Stinson's SAEN editorial
Roddy Stinson's op-ed in the San Antonio Express News:
However, when a Pulitzer Prize-winning metropolitan newspaper begins to take Friedman seriously, somebody has to spotlight the lunacy before it gains momentum and embarrasses the journalism profession permanently.I disagree with Stinson: Iactually think that there is a way for Friedman to come close to beating Rick Perry, but I'm generally not in the business of giving away too much free advice. I think he is a serious candidate, and has potential although I probably didn't make that clear in my analysis (probably because I don't see it as likely right now, given the strategy their campaign appears to be following).The only "serious" point that can be made about candidate Kinky is that he has become the poster child for the crippled Texas Democratic Party.
The most significant number in the Zogby poll wasn't Perry's 42 percent, but the measly 25 percent garnered by the Democrats' leading candidate, Chris Bell.
Whom did other Democrats or Democrat-leaning independents select?
Here's a clue:
Four years ago, in the state's top three races — governor, lieutenant governor, U.S. senator — the Democratic candidates received, respectively, 40 percent, 46 percent and 43 percent of the votes cast.
If you take 46 percent (the number of voters willing to vote Democratic in at least one statewide race) and subtract 25 percent (Bell's support), you get 21 percent ... Friedman's poll number.
Coincidence?
Hardly.
However, I do agree with Stinson that right now Friedman is more likely to draw from Democrats than Republicans, though I think he's overstating the case.
Posted by Evan @ 01/03/06 02:42 PM
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Stinson's such an idiot, he makes my teeth hurt. (I attended Trinity in San Antonio in the 80s. Stinson was an idiot then, and he's an idiot now.)
1. This was a Zogby Interactive poll, which at least deserves a disclaimer.
2. The most recent Texas poll had Friedman at 13% - eight points lower - with Perry scoring six points higher. Coincidence? You make the call.
3. How does he explain Perry at 42% when he won with 59% in 2002?
Your analysis above makes much more sense. I agree that Kinky can be a factor, but to call what Stinson wrote "facile" would be kind.
Posted by Charles Kuffner @ 01/03/06 09:13 PM
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