In Other Election News ...

On Tuesday, the Texas Supreme Court overruled a lower court's temporary injunction barring the Associated Republicans of Texas PAC from spending "allegedly illegal" corporate donations. Last week, in a lawsuit filed by Democratic state House candidates Bob Glaze of Gilmer and David Leibowitz of San Antonio, Judge Paul Davis ruled that ART could neither collect nor spend corporate dollars in this campaign. The plaintiffs argued successfully – in keeping with a relatively novel interpretation of state law currently promulgated by Fred Lewis of Campaigns for People – that corporations and unions can only spend administrative funds associated with their own corporate PACs. But writing for the Supreme Court, Judge Nathan Hecht said that Davis' restraining order improperly affected ART's "rights to participate in the election," and that such a decision should not be made without a full hearing "when substantial rights are involved and the issues are far from clear." In response to the ruling, the plaintiffs asked for an immediate hearing, which the court denied on Wednesday. – Michael King

From the Department of Pre-emptive Victory: While the general election is still several days away, the Diamond matchbook company has, apparently and subtly, already declared a presidential victory for John Kerry. Diamond – the country's premiere matchbook maker – features a U.S. Presidents collectible matchbook series (available in the "deluxe size" match "caddy," containing 50 matchbooks) depicting the chief executives and laying out their vital stats. Naked City recently acquired the George W. Bush version, which proclaims Bush a lame duck: according to the matchbook, Bush, born in 1946 and not dead yet, served the country as president from 2001-2005. That's all she wrote, folks: Vote Nov. 2 to make it official. – Jordan Smith

Austinite and Libertarian Party presidential candidate Michael Badnarik picked up a pretty high-profile defection from the Republican camp last week – former Georgia congressman and right-wing ideologue Bob Barr. The Badnarik campaign proudly trumpeted Barr's support in an e-mail – gee, Michael, are you trying to encourage people to not vote for you? – Lee Nichols