RP>That means both DemonRats and Republicans are in trouble, at least in
RP>Texas.  If such a trend proves to be very widespread, I'd say the
RP>Republican party's suicide is proceeding even faster than I'd thought,
RP>and that Bush leading the ticket wouldn't help it one bit.
 
        Voter turnouts for the primaries in Texas were low, but voting
in these primaries is limited to those who wish to affiliate with a
given political party.  Many Texans do not wish to do this.  Also in
the primary elections most races were not seriously contested, many of
the headliners were unopposed in their own party, and spending was
being reserved for the November elections.  
         These turnouts really didn't show much since just four months
ago in a hotly contested mayor's race in Houston record turnouts
occured.  How many people vote is directly related to how hotly
contested an election is.  If the media tells everyone Jim Spam is
going to win with 65% of the vote, then you'll have a low turnout.  If
Jim Spam and Fred Frankfurter are in a virtual tie in the polls, then
you have a bigger turn out.  As long, of course, as they are in the top
one or two slots on the ballot.  The remainder of the ballot,
unfortunately, hasn't attracted public interest since the early 1800's.
          Watch in November if the Attorney General race heats up. 
Bush will get reelected Governor in a walk, Lt. Governor is a walk, and
the AG race may be with Mattox reviving himself from the political dead
to get his hands on the tobacco settlement, but the latter race could
get interesting. 
 
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