Post Date: August 2013

How Holder May Help Abbott in 2014

| By: Jim Henson, PhD and Joshua Blank, PhD

Public opinion on voting rights in Texas neither paints a dour picture for gubernatorial hopeful Greg Abbott nor presents a clear path forward for Democrats.

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How Abortion Could Shape a 2014 Abbott-Davis Contest

| By: Jim Henson, PhD and Joshua Blank, PhD

The return of abortion bills during the special sessions presents opportunities for both Greg Abbott and Wendy Davis to consolidate support and financial backers. But the choices they make could result in a potentially complicated general election dynamic.

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Ambivalence Structures Gridlock on NSA Surveillance

| By: Jim Henson, PhD and Joshua Blank, PhD

It's not surprising that the political class hasn't rallied to one side or the other on the debate over NSA surveillance; the public is sending oblique messages to its elected officials.

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Keywords: Ideology, Privacy

Perry’s Whack at the Obamacare Piñata

| By: Joshua Blank, PhD and Jim Henson, PhD

While most Americans do in fact have an opinion on the Affordable Care Act, to say that they understand it — at all, let alone “all too well” — runs contrary to the data currently available.

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Keywords: Obamacare, Rick Perry

Joe Straus and the Other Republicans

| By: Jim Henson, PhD and Joshua Blank, PhD

Many statewide Republican candidates are running to the right to position themselves for the primaries, but the Speaker of the House enjoys a rarified position: An office with statewide reach that doesn't appear on the statewide ballot.

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Patrick Ad Goes Fishing for GOP Primary Votes

| By: Jim Henson, PhD and Joshua Blank, PhD

Data from the University of Texas/Texas Tribune Poll suggests that the issues Sen. Dan Patrick invokes in the latest ad in his bid for lieutenant governor serve up very inviting bait for conservative voters, the big fish in GOP primary elections. 

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From Smooth Sailing to Traffic Jam

| By: Jim Henson, PhD and Joshua Blank, PhD

The regular Texas legislative session was notable for bipartisan coalitions and harmony. The special sessions have been notable for partisan battles and stalemates. To understand what's going on, just look at the voters.

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