Mexican American Democrats in Texas Endorse Obama

This from AP, via the Wichita Falls Times Record News:

Sen. Barack Obama has won the coveted endorsement of the Mexican American Democrats, the oldest Hispanic group among Texas Democrats.

In announcing its weekend decision, the Democratic group cited Obama's long-standing relationship with Hispanic community and commitment to improving the lives of Hispanics.

“The Mexican American community needs more that just Spanish-speaking candidates trying to get the Hispanic vote. We need candidates who are committed to improve the lives of Latino men, women and children whether citizens, legal residents or undocumented by writing polices that work for us,” said John Lopez, chairman of the group's endorsing committee.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton has been counting on the Hispanic vote in Texas, campaigning in predominantly Hispanic regions and playing up her work 36 years ago registering Hispanic voters in Texas.

And Ted Kennedy journeys to South Texas tomorrow to garner support from Latinos, as the Houston chronicle reports:

Sen. Ted Kennedy, D-Mass., Obama's most prominent congressional supporter, will be in the Lone Star State for Wednesday events in Corpus Christi, McAllen and Laredo. Kennedy will remain in Texas on Thursday, the day of the pivotal Clinton-Obama debate in Austin, but his schedule has not been announced.

To make things in the Texas prima-caucus a little more interesting, here are two recent polls:

CNN: Clinton 50% - Obama 48%
SurveyUSA: Clinton 50% - Obama 45%

Texas might not be the firewall Clinton hoped for. Especially when combined with yesterday's news about the Clinton campaign's questionable planning for the Lone Star State.

According to a Washington Post article yesterday, the Clinton crew was surprised this month to discover the complex nature of the Texas Prima-caucus and how it might adversely affect Hillary.

Part of the Daily Dish response:

Good lord, let’s see if I have this right. The Clinton campaign decides to cede every post-Super Tuesday state to Obama under the theory that Texas and Ohio will be strong firewalls. After – after – implementing this Rudy-esque strategy, they “discovered” that the archaic Texas rules will almost certainly result in a split delegate count (at best).

While they were busy “discovering” the rules, however, the Obama campaign had people on the ground in Texas explaining the system, organizing precincts, and making Powerpoints. I know because I went to one of these meetings a week ago. I should have invited Mark Penn I suppose.

The New Republic chimes in one the same story:

You know, for a candidate who says she'll be ready on day one as president, her campaign is remarkably ill-prepared. . . .

So let me get this straight: The Clinton campaign basically decided to bank almost everything on Texas (along with Ohio), without bothering to do due diligence on the delegate apportionment procedures there? If she does wind up winning the White House, who's the lucky aide who gets to troop into the Oval Office and deliver the shocking news to her that we've got troops in Iraq.

Flaco Jimenez, from San Antonio, Texas
(Don't know who he's endorsed - just like his music.)

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