Texas: General Elections 2006

by Bryan Comer

A survey conducted by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner on Sept. 21 tracked the issues concerning rural voters in competitive congressional districts throughout the country including Texas’ 23rd.(http://www.greenbergresearch.com/index.php?ID=1790)

Here’s what they found:

• Democrats and Republicans split rural voters evenly
• Key issues will be:
  • The War in Iraq
  • The Economy
  • The War on Terror
  • National Security
• Approx. 3/4 of rural voters know someone who is or has served in Iraq
• A majority favor a plan to pull out of Iraq within the coming year
• Dems have advantage on the issue of the War in Iraq
• Republicans have advantage on the issue of the War on Terror

Now. let’s see what our two leading candidates think about a few of the issues important to rural voters.

The War in Iraq:

Bonilla: essentially, stay the course. The US has an obligation to quell the threat of terrorism in the Middle East. (consistent with most other republican party members and the president)

http://bonilla.house.gov/

Rodriguez: it doesn’t say anything about it on his website but he did vote NO in 2002 on authorizing military action in Iraq, but YES in 2004 to remove Saddam and send in troops. (Not making this a key focus may hurt him, this is where he could have picked up some ground.)

http://www.ontheissues.org/TX/Ciro_Rodriguez.htm#War_+_Peace

The Economy:

Bonilla:  Bonilla emphasizes the importance of small business, “Small business is the backbone of our communities, the brain of our nation’s economy and the heart of American culture” (Sounds alot like a push for privatization)

Rodriguez:  Rodriguez is focusing on commerce along the border (which makes sense given the districts location… on the border). He supports a federal program called the Community Adjustment and Investment Program (CAIP) which is a loan program to help communities along the border struggling with the trade impacts of NAFTA. This program creates “jobs and stuff” is basically what Rodriguez is pushing. (Sounds a lot like expansion of federal government but does appeal to the unemployed which tend to be dems)

The War on Terror:

Bonilla: He thinks that we should “coordinate and focus our government-wide efforts to combat terrorism.” This essentially means that we should continue to provide support financially and militarily to persue terrorists.

Rodriguez: (I’m shaking my head right now) Why don’t you put this stuff on your website Ciro??? Anyways, he’s a democrat so I’ll assume that he wants to “cut and run” as the republicans would say.

National Security:

Bonilla: He says that, “The tragic attack on the United States on September 11, 2001, ongoing terrorist attacks in the Middle East and periodic terrorist alerts here at home have forever changed the way Americans view their security. No longer can anyone claim that instability and violence in other parts of the world have no effect on us.” So he wants to make sure we stay safe at home by furthering our efforts in Iraq.

Rodriguez: Since this is such an important issue I’m sure Ciro Rodriguez will have an opinion. Damn, nope, he doesn’t even mention it.

Allright, I’ve had about enough of this. Rodriguez isn’t getting a whole lot of rural voters. Bonilla at least deals with all of these issues on his website. I think it’s safe to assume that Bonilla will pull rural voters and Rodriguez will either have to start dealing with the “key issues” or, well… give up. The war in Iraq is a huge issue, it should be a focus for any candidate who actually wants to win.

I’m calling it right now, Bonilla is the overall winner of this district in a special election on December 7th.