What Wendy Davis needs to win uphill race for Texas governor
Matthew Wilson, political scientist at Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ's Dedman College of Huamanities and Sciences, talks about what Texas state Senator Wendy Davis would need to win a governor's race.
By Wayne Slater
AUSTIN — Wendy Davis’ path to the Governor’s Mansion might not be impossible, but a victory would be the most improbable win in Texas politics in two decades.
To succeed, the Democratic senator from Fort Worth will have to raise a formidable $40 million, attract groups that haven’t voted together in big numbers since 1990 and hope that her GOP opponent makes a big mistake. And she’ll have to do it in the reddest big state in America.
“Lightning would have to strike,” said former Lt. Gov. Bill Ratliff, a Republican.
But Davis advisers have a plan. ...
“There is no realistic scenario where a Democrat wins in 2014 without a really energized, unusually activated Latino electorate,” said Ë¿¹ÏÊÓƵ political scientist Matthew Wilson. “And what’s the formula for really getting an unusually active, mobilized Latino electorate? It’s not an Anglo lady who is an abortion champion.”...