I saw Skelly's fundraising yesterday on Swing State Project, and I was sure that it was a typo. I mean, $750,000 only happens when you're planning a bid for statewide office or you're spending a lot of your own money. The fact that he managed this much all from individual donors is amazing.

I am curious, though: how is he raising it? Is this a case of a strong Texas netroots and Dean-like internet fundraising? Or is he using local connections and direct mail? Either, of course, is equally valid, but anything that strengthens local netroots (or shows off their strength) is a good thing.

Of course, now that he has everyone's attention, I wouldn't be surprised if he was picked for the next round of endorsements by Blue Majority or Blue America. As long as he's relatively decent on progressive issues, I'd love to see the national and Texas netroots get really involved in this one.

(You know, once the presidential primary is wrapped up and Blue Majority's endorsement of Obama isn't an issue anymore, regardless of the nominee, maybe MyDD should consider joining the Blue Majority group of blogs again. The folks here tend to be enthusiastic, but they aren't being directed to down-ticket races where they can help. Most of the focus is on the primary race, where there really isn't much left for anyone outside PA, IN, NC, etc. to do. You've got some enthusiastic Clinton and Obama supporters who I'm sure would be willing to open their wallets for most of the candidates on the Blue Majority list.  At the very least, there should be a MyDD ActBlue page for endorsed down-ticket races.)

There's more reason for hope in this district.  Culberson has really angered many in this area by his support for the I-10 expansion (at the expense of local businesses and homeowners) and his opposition to the METRORail expansion.  It's become clear to many that he's in the pocket of certain construction companies and is doing their bidding at the expense of his constituents.  He also doesn't seem to have endeared himself much to anyone else.  I expect to see strong opposition to and only lukewarm support for his reelection.  Granted, it's an uphill district, but it's certainly winnable if the blue wave in Houston is large enough.

The comparisons to Edwards and Lampson are not really on point.  Edwards was an incumbent who was redistricted into a much more Republican district and managed to hang on.  Lampson, of course, benefitted from DeLay's late resignation and DeLay's replacement had to run as a write-in.

The fund raising is extremely impressive, however, and the low numbers for Culberson are encouraging.  As noted, the PVI numbers for all Texas districts skew Republican because a Texan was running for president--probably 3-4 points.  Also, Texas seems to be trending blue, so there's definitely reason for hope.

... a reaction of the locals to all those press and outsiders hangin' around the area and pokin' their noses into other people's business while Shrub has been in the White House?

I suspect that, while some may have prospered as a result, more would be peeved, at best, and might express their displeasure by voting D.

One thing that Yankees might not realize is that Harris County government is set to flip to the Democrats this year.  Virtually all of the county offices are on the ballot in November and the Harris County Democratic Party is making a strong effort to sweep every seat.  They carefully screened candidates for the primary to make sure the best won and are really pushing straight ticket voting and higher turnout among traditionally low turnout elements of the Democratic base.  This will help Skelly (and Lampson, BTW) tremendously.

The GOP knew that this district would eventually slip away from their hands, and the Democrats knew that this one would eventually be in reach. But this soon? I'm quite surprised. Coming from someone originally from this place.
This is already a pretty awkward and Gerrymandered district. Upon looking further, It's actually pretty carefully and skillfully gerrymandered. It contains the Sam Houston Racetrack, but not adjacent Carriage lane (a relatively poor neighborhood)... It doesn't contain the poor neighborhoods along the inner side of 290 from the beltway, but does contain the more middle-class / affluent parts. It contains the Champions area, and part of the Willowbrook corridor, but not the mall itself nor all of the apartment complexes it contains... brilliantly done if I must say.

Still, the inner Houston parts, despite being very affluent, should be Skelly's base, including Bellaire, West University, and even River Oaks (one of the richest neighborhoods in the country if not the), but also the Montrose area too (the centre of gay and artistic life in the city). The Katy Freeway corridor, and most extending up to 290, should be Culberson's most reliable votes. Many of these places are still relatively undeveloped and have quite an exurban feel to it. To win the district, Skelly must carry the "swing" part of the district, the parts northeast of 290 (and perhaps the adjacent parts southwest of it too), the Jersey Village / Cy-Fair area (from which I originate). Here, there's a lot of middle class places, but also a substantial number of working class homes, and rapidly built appartment complexes. It probably also has most of the districts minorities, with a large amount of hispanics, blacks, and asians (including south asians), and probably increasing in hispanic population. This part, as well as the Katy Freeway corridor, probably accounts for most of the district's growth, which I'm estimating has grown at least 200,000 since 2000.

I didn't think this would be a race just yet, but this certainly does excite me.