Sorry about yesterday’s lack of Open Thread. I guess everyone was on vacation or at work.
In New Jersey, a new Quinnipiac poll has Cory Booker (D) with 52% in the Democratic Primary, followed by Rep. Frank Pallone (D) at 10%, Rep. Rush Holt (D) at 8% and Sheila Oliver (D) at 3%. The late Sen. Lautenberg’s family has endorsed Pallone, but I am not sure Mr. Lautenberg had that much sway anymore. In the a possible general election matchup, Booker beats Steve Lonegan (R) 53% to 30%.
Texas Dictator Rick Perry (who has been in power since 2000, a record 13 straight years and 3 full terms), has decided to retire. The Dems may have a primary between two rising stars, Sen. Wendy Davis and San Antonio’s Democratic Mayor Julian Castro. On the GOP side, the extremely well-financed Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott seems to have the GOP field all to himself.
“Let the Texas-size political shake-up begin. With Rick Perry stepping aside after more than a decade as governor, a host of statewide candidates can finally try to move up. And the governor freed himself to focus on another possible run for president.” the Dallas Morning-News reports.
National Journal: “Rick Perry is stepping down as the longest-serving governor in Texas history to clear the decks for a 2016 presidential campaign, according to several well-placed Republican sources. They said Perry is stepping down to make sure his declining popularity among Texas Republicans won’t complicate his Oval Office ambitions.
Mark Barabak: “Although leaving office in January 2015 could diminish his fundraising capacity, it would also allow Perry more preparation time than he took in the lead-up to his gaffe-filled 2012 campaign, the only election loss of his more than three-decade-long political career.”