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2:01	[Comment From Jaime Castillo ] Let's get this thing started.

2:09

Jaime Castillo -

Jaime,
What do you think the future face of the Republican party looks like? I myself am a Moderate Republican but recently I went to several Republican gatherings in town and they seem to be populated with Libertarians or even Reactionaries. I did not feel welcomed at all.

Do you think that the future governor's race between Kay Bailey Hutchinson and Rick Perry will serve as a bell weather of how the national Republican persona will take?

Is there a future for our two party system?

Thx
Rob Rodriguez

Let's start with the last question first. Absolutely there's a future for our two-party system because the laws are set up in such a way to make it more difficult tfor third-party candidates o get on the ballot. Until that infrastructure that benefits both the Democrats and Republicans changes, third parties are going to be fighting uphill.

As for KBH vs. Perry, I think the outcome will say a lot about the future of the GOP in Texas. Perry is already running hard to the right, while Hutchison will be trying to appeal to moderates at the same time that she tries not to lose conservatives.

Nationally, the process is going to be an evolving one between conservatives who are comfortable leading the charge on social issues, while other Republicans would like to stick to fiscally conservative themes and stay away from the hot-button social issues.

2:12

Jaime Castillo -

Beth,

I wish we had some independent polling in this race, but we don't. The numbers that have leaked out of the Julian Castro camp point to him coming close to avoiding a runoff on Saturday night. From there, it appears Trish DeBerry-Mejia and Diane Cibrian will be jockeying for second place.

2:16

Jaime Castillo -

I'll stay away from making outright predictions, but I'll be closely watching the District 1 City Council race featuring incumbent Mary Alice Cisneros. It's hard to imagine her losing with her name id, but she's clearly taking this race very seriously. I'd also pay close attention to District 5 where Lourdes Galvan is trying to win a second term. We're probably looking at runoffs in District 2, 6 and 8.

2:18	[Comment From Beth] what are the polls saying about the local mayoral election?

2:18	[Comment From Josh Baugh] Do you predict any upsets in tomorrow's results?

2:18	[Comment From Guest] Jaime,

2:19	[Comment From Eric Braun] How do we know if we need a run-off and how does it work?

2:20	Jaime Castillo - A runoff is necessary if no candidate earns a majority of the ballots cast. Basically, the first-place finisher needs 50 percent plus one of the votes to avoid doing it all over again in 30 days. If that happens, it's mano a mano between the top two vote-getters.

2:27	[Comment From Felix] Jaime, What do you think the liklihood of a runoff is? If there is a runoff do you think Julian has a chance?

2:31

Jaime Castillo - I go back and forth every day on the runoff vs no runoff question. I think there's a decent chance we don't have a runoff. None of the mayoral candidates, Julian included, have caught fire. But he has name id, the most TV and the biggest built-in political base. If he receives anything north of 47 percent of the votes Saturday night, he should win the runoff. Politics can turn on a dime, and a runoff would be brutal, but the anybody-but-Castro-faction is nowhere near as strong as it was 4 years ago.

2:34	[Comment From Shirley] Speaking of brutal, isn't Cibrian playing for second place (and a runoff spot) by dumping all this garbage on Trish?

2:36

Jaime Castillo -

Shirley,
Yes, Cibrian has definitely shifted her tactics in the last couple of weeks. She started the campaign by going exclusively after Castro, but has since focused on DeBerry-Mejia. Clearly, she has decided that a runoff is her best hope and that she must try to get second place.

2:40	[Comment From RT] I'm wondering what Sheila McNeil is thinking. Got in the race at the last minute and has hardly put forth any effort or raised much money.

2:42

Jaime Castillo - RT,
That is one of the great unanswered questions of this race. The best theory going is that McNeil is trying to build name id for an eventual run for county commissioner. But it's not unfair to say that she's mailed it in during this mayor's race. Unless she pulls off a surprise showing Saturday, I don't know how finishing a distant fourth place and in single digits helps her win a future race.

2:43	[Comment From Felix] I agree with you. I don't think that faction is nearly as strong as it was 4 years ago but now thinking it does go to a runoff do you think that the 3rd place finishers voters will jump on Trishs bandwagon assuming she wins 2nd? and will that be enought to knock out Julian?

2:46

Jaime Castillo -

Felix,
It depends on how close Castro is to the magic 50-percent mark. I don't think all of Diane Cibrian's and Sheila McNeil's supporters automatically default to Trish DeBerry-Mejia, the way Carroll Schubert's votes went for Hardberger four years ago. If Julian finishes Saturday night at 45 percent or below, then I think anything can happen. But, if he's at point-blank range after Saturday, there's probably enough supporters of his in the other camps to get him over the top.

2:57	[Comment From James] Looking ahead a bit, is there anyone of potential mayoral timber -- or even a leader on the council -- among the candidates in the 10 districts?

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