Hello world-wide web, I come to you with news from the Great State of Texas (i.e. the state that actually matters this year,especially for the democrats). Within this blog I will talk about the problems that both of the Democratic candidates will face within this massive border-state, and also touch briefly on the upcoming debate in the Lone Star State.
The first evident challenge for both Barrack Obama and Hillary Clinton within the state of Texas is the sheer size of the state. Unbenounced at the beginning of the candidate's campaignswas the idea that the state of Texas could actually have a clear impact on the choice of the Democratic presidential nomination. However, now that the delegate counts are so close between the two candidates states such as Texas, Pennsylvania, and Ohio actually have an influence. With neither Barrack nor Hillary having an infastructure established in Texas it is no wonder that they are now scrambling for the needed infastructure. Another element of complication is the amount of money that the two Democratic candidates will have to spend in the Lone Star State. In Texas there are approximately 10 extremely large urban areas and in each of those urban areas, different ad campaigns are needed. It is estimated by the Associated Press that a 20 sec TV ad at 11:00pm costs approximately $1.2 million. Can you imagine how much it will cost to dillute the whole state of Texas with advertising at this price; candidates will literally be spending tens of millions of dollars on ads that could net them a win or a loss, proving that Texas is a monetary nightmare and could bankrupt certain campaigns. The final element of complication for the two democratic candidates is the vast array of political issues facing individual areas of Texas. For instance out in West Texas you have farmers who wish for the continuation of farm subsidies, and on the other end of the state you have individual communities who are still reeling from the impacts of Hurricane Rita and Katrina. It will be very hard for the candidates to address all of the issues that the state of Texas brings to the table, which range from border security to subsidized farming, but in retrospect it will be a great opportunity for the candidates to get a feel of the general election enviroment where you have to please all parties but at the same time dilleniate your platform.
Now with all of the simantics out of the way, we can talk about the upcoming Democratic debate at the University of Texas on Saturday, which will be co-hosted by CNN and Univision. Basically I just have some insight into the questions I believe will be asks and those I believe won't be asked. I beleive that many of the questions asked will favor Barrack Obama and will underscore the effectiveness and divisiveness of Hillary Clinton. Several questions I beleive will be asked are:
1) What is your stance on the Iraq war, do you beleive we need a timetable for withdrawl or do we need to withdraw as soon as possible?
2) What is your stance of abortion (after all Roe v. Wade came out of Texas)
3) What is your course of action for the economy and the volatility of the housing market?
4) What is your course of action in regard to foreign policy?
5) Alternative energy?
6) Taxes?
7) Terrorism / Homeland Security
There is also an area of questioning that I believe will be left out of this debate, which is the issue of immigration. Although Texas is a border state and we do have immigration problems, I believe the divisiveness of the issue will and has allready led to both candidates' managers to say they will not allow those questions to be asked, as is the right of each candidate to do. It may not be asked, but the views are clear, Hillary Clinton is soft on Immigration and Barrack is indecisive on the issue which could ultimately play in his favor. (It seems Obama's indecisiveness has been a good thing for him all along)
TEXAS,THE STATE THAT MATTERS FOR THE FIRST TIME IN DECADES
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