Free Republic

(snip) Almost every presidential-election cycle, the spotlight illumines a campaign guru whose tactical acumen seemingly propels his client to heights unreachable alone. For Republicans, Karl Rove – “Bush’s Brain” – occupied that position during George W. Bush’s White House years; James Carville was the Democrats‘ man with a campaign plan during the Bill Clinton years. For 2012, Carney is stepping into that role, as his client soars in the early polls and as he gets credit for a strategic innovation he put into place for Perry’s 2006 gubernatorial race and may be adapting for Perry’s presidential quest. The state’s longest-serving...

Feb. 6, 2004, 9:48PM Giving a name to GOP primary politics By CLAY ROBISON Copyright 2004 Houston Chronicle In the end, an important political race may be decided by something as simple (and potentially dangerous) as which of two common names -- Smith or Green -- sounds better to most Republican primary voters. For political insiders, however, the race between Texas Supreme Court Justice Steven Wayne Smith and challenger Paul Green offers an entertaining look at how Gov. Rick Perry is letting his pique at Smith put him at odds with leaders from the far-right wing of his own party,...