How many of you have ever been on a Cook’s tour? In this case I am not writing about a tour or survey of restaurants, diners, drive-ins, or other eateries; but of the November 2 election. What follows is a Cook’s tour of some state elections. This tour will start in Texas, head out west, and end on the east coast. So saddle up, it’s going to be an interesting ride.
Voters across the country will elect governors in 37 states on November 2. What makes the governor races important is the fact that they will be in office as the states redistrict on the basis of the most recent Census, a process that sets the boundaries of congressional districts.
Republican incumbent Rick Perry remains ahead of Democratic challenger Bill White in his bid for reelection as governor of Texas. Under Perry Texas has fared better than the nation as a whole during these difficult economic times, covering budget shortfalls by cutting spending rather than raising taxes, and creating an economic climate that attracts employers. White a former Houston mayor is another Democrat who believes in the liberal tax and spend philosophies of President Barack Obama.
In Texas House District 3 Republican Erwin Cain, a small businessman, and an attorney is running for State Representative. A traditional conservative committed to serving as a leader in the fight to preserve the values of faith and family. District 3 covers six counties Delta, Franklin, Hopkins, Lamar, Red River and Lamar; with over 140,000 Texans calling home.
In the race to be New Mexico’s next governor Republican Susana Martinez and Democrat Diane Denish are neck and neck according to some polls. Martinez is a county district attorney and holds a better than two to one lead among independent voters.
Democrat Jerry Brown and Republican Meg Whitman continue their neck and neck battle for the California gubernatorial race. This is a tight race in a state in extreme economic trouble, with longtime liberal Jerry Brown being a time machine to failure.
In Oregon Republican Chris Dudley continues to hold a small lead over Democrat John Kitzhaber, who served as governor of Oregon from 1995 to 2003. Dudley, a former professional basketball player turned businessman, leads among voters who put the economy first.
Fifty-seven percent of voters in Minnesota favor passage of an immigration law like Arizona’s in their state, voters who favor an Arizona-like law in Minnesota support Republican Tom Emmer who is virtually tied with Democrat Mark Dayton in the race to be Minnesota’s next governor.
Following the Republican primary earlier in the month, John Stephen received a bounce in support against Democratic Governor John Lynch in the New Hampshire race. Nearly half of New Hampshire voters say economic issues are most important in terms of how they vote in November.
The Democrat who lost the Massachusetts Senate special election now risks losing her day job to an unexpected opponent: A last-minute write-in candidate. Martha Coakley faced no Republican challenger in her bid for re-election as state attorney general, until James McKenna won an unlikely write-in Republican nomination two weeks ago.
Pennsylvania Attorney General Tom Corbett, a Republican, holds the lead in the race to be the state’s next governor over his Democratic opponent, Allegheny County Executive Dan Onorato. Seventy-five percent of all voters in Pennsylvania think there should be strict government sanctions against employers who hire illegal immigrants.
Republican businessman Rick Scott has a six-point edge over Democrat Alex Sink and has hit the 50% support mark in Florida’s gubernatorial race.
With the gubernatorial race in Florida that ends your Cook’s tour of state elections.
Our country is facing serious challenges. To call off pending votes on critical bills the Democratic led Congress has put out the closed sign as they headed home for the elections. It appears they are more willing to campaign than to reach an agreement on tax cuts, child nutrition or a federal budget.
Among voters nationwide, 61% say cutting government spending and deficits will do more to create jobs than the president’s jobs program. The Republican Pledge for America contains a permanent extension of the lower, Bush-era tax rates for all taxpayers and calls for cutting $100 billion in spending next year.
America is at a critical crossroads, and the path taken will determine the kind of country we will be. To determine the path taken requires you to VOTE on November 2.
Mark Olinger is a retired Army officer who resides in Mount Vernon, Texas.
