What are the candidates interests?
Nixon: extremely loyal to the GOP platform, almost blindly so for years, pushed through the tort reform measures so many people either love or hate (depending on which side of the argument you prefer). His home builder screwed up and thanks in large part to the fact that Nixon’s a lawyer, he got a settlement allowing his contractor to finish the repairs obligated of the insurance company. Did it hurt that he sat on the committee in charge of insurance, heck no but you can look at similar claims by other lawyers and see they fared better than average too.

Ellis: in terms of state office, a neophyte or blank slate. A quick glance at his record over the years shows him to be a moderate conservative who seemed to have a soft spot for police raises (even when HPD’s union was at odds with Gary Polland). If his sole payoff is to Houston’s finest, he’d be a pretty good choice; even adding in that he’s just as friendly to home builders as most politicians seeking office.

Hamric: Texans like beer so being endorsed by beer companies isn’t a problem. Heck, lower the taxes on alcohol and people will cheer for you like you invented a cure for cancer around here; at least if the companies lower the price for a few months. PACs handing out small amounts is just a way of thanking someone or hedging a bet more than actively supporting them.

Patrick: Even if he didn’t take larger amounts than he said candidates should take, his ability to talk out of both sides of his mouth at the same time is scary considering the original poll that came out last year. Okay, he financed it but still… Why is it that every time a concern is raised, he has a pat answer, not a good pat answer either, that diverts attention away from the question? That he lent his campaign such a large amount of money tells me that his business accumen is just as bad as that letter claimed (where Patrick had lots of financial problems in the past-which the candidate bragged about recently in the Chron) or that he’s going to seek a return on investment for his dough. I don’t like either scenario and frankly, I trust him even less than Alvarado when it comes to finances.

Kubosh: He’s a bailbond company owner. His claim in all this is to being a surefire loss as a candidate but a winner when it comes to advertising his business. At public forums, he comes off as nicer than anyone except Ellis and maybe Hamric.

Best candidate? Nixon is if you want the hardline GOP platform to advance in Texas. Hamric is if you want a softer version of it with a moderately better chance to pass through to the Gov’s desk. Ellis is if you want a new guy that could learn the details as he went along. Patrick is if you have an interest in gridlock for the length of his term (he’s railed at those he’s supported in the past repeatedly, showing his true colors, when they didn’t give him exactly what he demanded). Kubosh is if you want to send a message that “we wanted to piss off the GOP but not as much as we would have with Patrick”.