As you probably know, The Seminal will be following a few key Senate races this year in hopes of increasing the Democratic majority even further in the 2008 elections. We've chosen races we are interested in personally and politically. Two of them, Andrew Rice in Oklahoma and Rick Noriega in Texas, present particular challenges. Like the fact the states went 66% and 61% for Bush in 2004. Or that the seats Rice and Noriega are running for have been occupied by Republicans for over a decade.
So why choose to focus on what might seem like "hopeless" races? For one, as Frank Sinatra said, if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere. If a progressive candidate can unseat a Republican in some of the reddest states in the nation, it sends a pretty clear message that the progressive platform is America's platform. No more red nation or even purple nation. If Oklahoma and Texas go Democratic in 2008, it's further proof we live in a blue nation after all.

On top of that, these guys have a real shot at winning. Rick Noriega has raised close to $1 million so far. He's racked up the endorsements too, pulling in support from both progressive and establishment organizations like:

• Democracy for America
• VoteVets
• Over 40 Texas state leaders, Representatives and Senators
• BlueAmerica

Today, the Texas AFL-CIO, the state's largest labor union, also came out in support of Noriega's effort. AFL-CIO President Becky Moeller said:

From health care to stagnant wages to the cost of college, Washington politicians like Senator Cornyn have let Texas families down too many times. Lt. Col. Noriega is the leader we need to bring a new direction to Washington. He's always stood up for Texas' working families, and I know that as our Senator he'll always put Texas first. Rick Noriega is the change Washington needs, and the AFL-CIO is very proud to endorse him.

Beyond fundraising and endorsements, Noriega's polling isn't looking so bad either. Last fall, Kos commissioned a baseline poll that put Noriega behind incumbent John Cornyn 51% to 35% if the election were held that day. However, the full numbers were a bit more revealing. Cornyn's approval rating was below 50%. Most agree that when an individual member's approval rating slips below 50%, they are in trouble. Cornyn, a rubber stamp Republican, is in trouble.
Really, this shouldn't be that surprising. John Cornyn has a 100% pro-business voting record by the Chamber of Commerce, voted against SCHIP, voted for warranteless wiretapping, wants English declared our official language, and consistently voted for the war in Iraq. Overall, he voted with the Republican party 93.2% of the time. Both the President and Vice-President raised money for him.
In a country where Bush's approval rating is hovering in the 30s, Democrats are out-raising Republicans almost 2:1, and people are seriously concerned about the ongoing occupation of Iraq, unfordable health care, a shaky economy, and a widening gap between the rich and poor, rubber stamp Republicans face a tough battle.
We've seen what Republicans do to our country. They wreck the economy. They start belligerent wars. They steadily erode the gains the middle class has made over the last 50 years. They take away our civil liberties and push America farther towards a police state, preferring to keep the citizens living in fear. By electing Rick Noriega and taking back John Cornyn's seat, we'll be moving one step closer to shutting the door once and for all on the Bush doctrine, which has been so disastrous for America.
I'll have more on the race regularly as it develops. In the meantime, if you believe as I do, chip in and help Noriega win!
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