@ Chronic: Victory in '08! or Victory in '08?

A couple of weeks ago, we reported on the staged photo-op that was the launch of Texas Victory 2008, the state Republican Party's next push for electoral glory. So where's the Democratic equivalent?

"Uh, we don't really bother with one," said Amber Moon, communications director for the Texas Democratic Party. The GOP launch event, which was basically some media, a lot of local party organizers, some staffers, and a handful of heavy hitters, is a regular occurrence the Dems seem to consider a whimsical diversion, rather than a serious campaign kick-off.

What has figured on a lot of people's radar, including quite a few members of the press at the launch, is how early it was. Well, early for the Republicans, that is. The Dems admit they've been grassroots-sewing since February, but the Republicans don't normally start for a good few months yet.

Then there's the fact that the three bigwigs present -- Gov. Rick Perry, Sen. John Cornyn, and campaign Chair Roger Williams -- were all talking about having to build a new grassroots network of local conservative activists. Which is strange, since the Karl Rove inheritance of GOP electoral organization in Texas has reached near-mythic status. Where have they gone?

Even weirder was that Cornyn talked about how the RNC traditionally had ignored Texas because it didn't really need any external assets to stay a safe Republican stronghold. This needs to change, he said.

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Posted Monday, July 30, to Chronic; read more at austinchronicle.com/chronic.