GOP Texans push back at media’s Gustav play

Despite the diversion of media attention to Gustav, the Texas delegation was, as one would expect, exuberantly bullish on their party’s chances in November.

Dewhurst said when he got off the plane Sunday night in Minneapolis, he ran into a friend who is a Texas evangelical pastor.

“Because of Gov. Palin, I bet we turn out three to five million more votes,” was the pastor’s prediction. That forecast naturally drew whoops and applause from the Texans.

Laura Bush praises Palin's toughness
And First Lady Laura Bush showed up at the Texans’ breakfast to lavish praise on Palin.

"I am proud that I'm going to get my wish to vote for a Republican woman," said Mrs. Bush.

Referring to Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, Mrs. Bush said both she and the president were “surprised and thrilled by her nomination,” adding "we know how tough she is” and “we know what kind of women the state of Alaska produces — and how tough and strong she is.”

Although the First Lady didn’t allude to the news media hubbub over Palin’s baby and her 17-year old daughter being pregnant, the “tough” comment may have signaled to Texas delegates her faith that Palin would survive and thrive in the face of daunting media and Democratic scrutiny.

John Brecher / msnbc.com Alternate delegate from Texas Randall Dunning

Randall Dunning, a software developer for Rockwell Collins, as well as an alternate delegate and a Mike Huckabee supporter, said he was optimistic about the Republicans' chances in November because McCain was steering a more conservative course than he had before.

“Look at our platform, the vice presidential pick, the mood of the nation — you see it's going to be a more conservative Republican platform and a more conservative ticket than we’ve put together in a number for years,” said Dunning.

“Republicans fare better when we stay true to our conservative positions than when we try to play centrist games.”

He added “I don’t think people have suddenly become more liberal just because of war weariness or other things. It’s still a basically conservative nation.”

The only problem with Bush “in the circles in which I move is that he hasn’t been conservative enough.”

So is McCain more conservative than George W. Bush?  “I am surprised to say that McCain has actually moved right. The big fear was that he would move left,” replied Dunning.

He called Palin “phenomenal” and McCain’s’ choice of her “a phenomenally conservative move.”

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