Locally

In looking at who is mailing in their ballots in Harris County, Dems might be doing ok this year. A UH poll has good news for Dems. Check this from the Chron:

A new survey released Thursday by the University of Houston Hobby School of Public Affairs shows Democratic challengers for county wide office rising sharply against Republican incumbents.

It also showed Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton with a seven-point lead over Republican Donald Trump, which Hobby research associate and poll author Bob Stein called “the biggest lead I’ve ever seen a Democratic presidential candidate have in the 37 years I’ve been polling in Houston.”

Barack Obama beat Republicans John McCain by 1.6 percent in 2008, and Mitt Romney by less than 1 percent in 2012.

“The big takeaway here is the Democratic surge,” Stein said.

The poll, a telephone survey of 400 registered Harris County voters, showed Democratic challenger Kim Ogg ahead of incumbent Republican Devon Anderson by seven points, 40 percent to 33 percent. A similar survey released by UH in September showed Ogg and Anderson in a virtual tie, 29 to 30 percent.

The new poll has a margin of error of plus- or minus 4.5 percent.

The poll also showed Ed Gonzalez, the Democratic candidate for Harris County sheriff, in a virtual tie with Republican incumbent Ron Hickman. The UH poll last month showed Hickman six points ahead.

Here is the entire article on the UH poll: http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/politics/houston/article/New-UH-poll-bodes-well-for-Harris-County-Democrats-10002268.php.

Commentary is not going to say much about the Dem effort here in Harris County. I will say that I feel pretty good about Latinos turning out to vote here. We will get some inkling on this on Monday.

Who was the second African American to play in MLB – Jackie Robinson was the first? Also name the team that signed him.

I watched Secretary Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump speak at the Al Smith Dinner last night. Trump needs some better writers. He got booed by the crowd. His best line came at the expense of his wife. Hillary had some good ones. I loved the Statue of Liberty line and the zing she put on Rudy Giuliani. Rudy didn’t like it – good.

I will be at this today:

Commentary received one of those evites with this on the cover:

It’s been 40 years since a Democrat took Texas!

This was in the body of the invitation:

Message from Host

40th Anniversary of the 1976 Carter/Mondale VICTORY in Texas. 

Calling all Jimmy Carter Texas staff, volunteers, and supporters. Join us for lunch. 

Several former campaign staffers are planning a reunion of those Texans who worked for Jimmy Carter in his campaigns.  You may recall that during the 1976 bicentennial year, the little known former Georgia governor upset incumbent President Gerald Ford. A big part of his victory was his capture of the 26 electoral votes in Texas. 

We hope that you can join us and our special guest, campaign manager, Chuck Parrish, for a reunion lunch. 

This will be a casual event and give us a chance to renew acquaintances with longtime friends.  It is sad, but true that the last year when we Democrats have won Texas was 1976. 

The event is at a Mexican restaurant in Austin today.

50 or so great Texas Dems who were involved back then will be in attendance. Commentary wasn’t actually on the Carter/Mondale staff. I was the Deputy Director of the Texas Democratic Party’s GOTV effort that worked closely with the Carter/Mondale Texas campaign.

Obviously, just about all of us are 60 plus in years.

Maybe the get together can create some winning karma for Dems in the Lone Star State.

On July 5, 1947, Larry Doby made his MLB debut with Cleveland to become the second African American in MLB of course.

Once again, I don’t have anything from The Yard except for Vera, Chuck and Dave.