2008 Texas Senate
| pollster | date | Cornyn * | Noriega | spread |
|---|
In a state that has voted Republican in the last seven presidential elections and where the GOP holds 19 of the 32 congressional districts, Sen. John Cornyn should not have too much trouble retaining his seat against a little-known state legislator.
However, Cornyn\'s approval ratings have not been excellent and early polls showed that he could be vulnerable to a Democratic challenge. After more high-profile candidates decided not to run -- including Houston Mayor Bill White -- Democrats settled on state Rep. Rick Noriega.
Cornyn\'s fundraising abilities allows him a key advantage in this enormous state. Through the third quarter, Cornyn has far outraised Noriega and still has close to $9 million in the bank.
The re-election of Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison and Gov. Rick Perry in the Democratic year of 2006 gives Cornyn reason for optimism that he\'s not as vulnerable as some polls suggested.
