My fond political hopes keep running headlong into political reality as the race for Texas governor slogs on.
I saw two public opinion polls this week that filled me with conflicting emotions.
A CBS News poll said Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is holding onto an eight-point lead over Democratic challenger Beto O’Rourke. I want O’Rourke to win and I want Abbott to pay for his hideous performance in fighting the immigration crisis, the COVID crisis, gun violence and the energy crisis.
Then came a new poll, from the Texas Politics Project, which declares that O’Rourke is six points behind Abbott. What’s more, the latter survey tells us the margin is narrow than it was in 1994 when upstart GOP nominee George W. Bush defeated Democratic incumbent Gov. Ann Richards.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s lead over Beto O’Rourke narrows, poll finds | The Texas Tribune
First poll runs into reality. Second poll speaks to my emotion.
Which of those do I believe? I’m grown up enough to know that Democrats in Texas always have a steep hill to climb.
However, I am an individual with a deep reservoir of hope. It’s not bottomless, but it’s still pretty deep.