Ben Smith is reporting that as of Tuesday, just about 500,000 voters have cast ballots early or absentee, which is 75,000 more than voted early in all of 2004. Another stunning figure: 37% of them are African-Americans, a group that makes up 29% of the population and a group that Survey USA estimates will make up 26% of the electorate. Are we seeing yet another under-estimation of African-American turnout? Not that it will be above 30% necessarily, but one suspects that it might reach their proportion of the population, as PPP is estimating it will in North Carolina. As for who’s winning the early voting in SUSA’s poll, it really should come as no surprise:

Early and absentee voting began in Georgia on 09/22/08. Among the 18% of Georgia voters who tell SurveyUSA they have already voted, Obama leads by 6 points; among those who have not yet voted, McCain leads by 11.

http://www.mydd.com/
Georgia is in play! Ok now I’m out bye!

AUSTIN — Texas Democrats contend the political climate is right for a stunning comeback from 2002 when they lost control of the House for the first time since Reconstruction.

Republicans, who captured a huge 88-62 advantage after that historic election, however, are refusing to concede any House contest — and even harbor hopes of padding their 78-71 advantage.

One Republican-leaning seat is open; Democrats need to gain five House seats to nudge Speaker Tom Craddick and his GOP allies out of power.

It seemed like a stretch just a few weeks ago to reach the magic number 76, a majority in the 150-member House, but the Texas GOP may not escape the souring national political mood.

And though Texas Republicans dispute any notion of losing their leverage, political experts agree the Republican brand name is in trouble.

http://www.chron.com/disp/stor…..58878.html

If Texas Dems think they can take the House then how does Texas remain a red state? I do not trust the polls.