More 'Esquire' Endorsements

The Chronicle reported last week that Esquire, the famed national men's magazine, endorsed Chris Bell for Texas governor, despite incumbent Rick Perry clearly being more in line with their square-jawed, perfect-hair ideal. But Esquire didn't stop there: they also endorsed in every Congressional race, as well.

They gave the nod to incumbent Republican Kay Bailey Hutchison for Senate, but in doing so, also took a swipe at her (and perhaps her Democratic opponent, Barbara Ann Radnofsky, as well): Evoking predecessors LBJ, Yarborough, Tower, and Bentsen, they ask, "Is Hutchison really the best Texas can do? Sadly, the answer is yes."

In Austin area races, Esquire mostly suggested that Central Texas voters clean out the Republicans (with the exception of Dist. 21's Lamar Smith) and replace them with a Democratic delegation: They picked Ted Ankrum in Dist. 10 over incumbent Michael McCaul (the editors openly noted their distate for anyone with connections to Tom DeLay), Mary Beth Harrell over John Carter in Dist. 31 ("Carter believes we should go back to requiring voters to submit to literacy tests … which the Voting Rights Act would kinda frown on"), and says Dist. 25 incumbent Lloyd Doggett will "be a face to watch if the Democrats take back the House."